WO2005096609A1

WO2005096609A1 - Communication network system, access gateway, and control method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2005096609A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/005957
Authority: WO
Inventors: Junichi Miyakawa
Original assignee: Softbank Bb Corp.
Priority date: 2004-03-30
Filing date: 2005-03-29
Publication date: 2005-10-13
Also published as: TW200601753A; JPWO2005096609A1; TWI350090B; JP4693771B2

Abstract

A communication network system includes: a subscriber side connection terminal (30) connected to a telephone (1) used by a subscriber; a hooking detection unit (35b) for detecting the hooking state of the telephone (1); a dial detection unit (35a) for detecting a communication destination dialed by the telephone (1); a first carrier connection terminal (31) connected to monitoring means (48) of a first carrier (4); a second carrier connection terminal (32) for performing communication via a second carrier (5); an IP network connection terminal (33) connected to an IP network (6); and a switch (30a) for selectively connecting one of the connection terminals (31 to 33) to the subscriber side connection terminal (30). Thus, it is possible to realize communication via the IP network and communication via a plurality of communication entrepreneurs and the line maintenance and management can be performed by a particular communication entrepreneur.

Description

Specification

Communication network system, access gateway and control method therefor

The present invention relates to a communication network system in which a plurality of communication paths can be connected to a telephone used by a subscriber via an access gateway, an access gateway used in the communication network, and a control method therefor. .

Background art

[0002] Hitherto, various schemes have been proposed for establishing a communication path in which a plurality of telecommunications carriers cooperate, and each scheme allows a subscriber telephone connected to a first telecommunications carrier to establish a communication path. Through the second telecommunications business, it is possible to make a call with the other party.

[0003] When a communication path is established in cooperation with a plurality of carriers, a POI (Point Of Interface) is provided which charges a line usage fee based on a connection point between different carriers. Fig. 5 shows the configuration of a conventional communication network.

[0004] As shown in the figure, in a conventional communication network, a first carrier (telecommunications carrier) 4 and a

(2) POIs 43 and 44 will be installed between Carrier 5 and dedicated lines, etc., and the usage fee for the first carrier 4 line up to POI43 and POI44 Or the sum of the charges for the lines of the first carrier 4 beyond 44.

[0005] In such a conventional communication network, a subscriber registers an arbitrary carrier (here, the second carrier 5) in the line database 47 arranged in the first carrier 4. As a result, the subscriber 1 connects to the group center 41 in the first carrier 4, where it refers to the circuit database 47, connects to the second carrier 5 through the zone center 42 and the POI 43, and connects through the POI 44. To the first carrier 4 again, and then to the called party 2 through the zone center 45 and the group center 46. If the second carrier is not registered, the zone centers 42 and 45 are directly connected in the first carrier 4 without passing through the POI.

[0006] In recent years, the so-called Internet over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology that converts voice signals into packet data and transmits and receives them over an IP network has been developed. Talking is becoming possible, and calls that do not go through the communication path are also being implemented. In order to make such an Internet telephone call, a gateway device for connecting different networks has been developed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-354045). According to this gateway device, the telephone line network and the IP network are selectively connected to the subscriber side, and data is transferred in accordance with the contents of the transmitted packet, so that the data can be transmitted through a plurality of line networks. Communication becomes possible.

[0007] Since this Internet telephone is a service with a low or free call charge, it is basically desirable that a line from a subscriber be connected to an IP network.

[0008] In addition, it is necessary to secure a route for a normal voice call, while the connection with a plurality of carriers is becoming possible as described above. Proper connection of the line may be difficult if only data is transferred accordingly.

[0009] In particular, when the subscriber's line belongs to the first carrier 4, it is necessary to monitor the line state on the first carrier 4 side, and the connection is uniformly connected to the IP network or the second carrier. In this case, monitoring becomes impossible, and line maintenance and management cannot be performed.

Disclosure of the invention

[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and enables communication over an IP network and a call through a plurality of communication carriers, and also performs line maintenance management for a specific communication business. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication network system, an access gateway, and a method for controlling the same, which can be performed by a user.

[0011] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention uses an access gateway including switch means for selectively connecting a connection terminal to a communication carrier to a connection terminal on a subscriber side.

That is, in the present invention, a subscriber connection terminal connected to a telephone used by a subscriber, hooking detecting means for detecting a hooking state of the telephone, and detecting a destination dialed in the telephone. Call destination detection means, a first connection terminal connected to the monitoring means of the first carrier, a second connection terminal for making a call via the second carrier, and an IP network. Using an access gateway comprising: a third connection terminal connected to the first connection terminal; and switch means for selectively connecting one of the first to third connection terminals to the subscriber-side connection terminal. . [0013] In the present invention, the access gateway connects the subscriber side connection terminal to the first connection terminal when the on-hook state of the telephone is detected, and subscribes when the on-hook state is released. The subscriber side connection terminal is connected to the third connection terminal, and when the destination detection means detects a predetermined destination, the subscriber side connection terminal is connected to the second connection terminal.

According to the present invention, when the telephone is in an on-hook state (communication! /, Na! /, State), the subscriber's line is connected to the first communication carrier, The first carrier can monitor the line and perform maintenance. Then, when the subscriber releases the on-hook state for calling, the connection to the first telecommunications carrier is disconnected, and the telephone number, IP address, etc. of the called party sent from the subscriber side are released. Depending on the situation, the second communication carrier or the IP network can be selectively switched and connected. As a result, a specific carrier performs maintenance and management of the line during the on-hook state, and selects the second carrier or the IP network according to the dial of the subscriber during the connection. Can be.

[0015] In the above invention, it is preferable that the second connection terminal is connected to a time division multiplexing device possessed by the second communication carrier. In this case, a plurality of lines can be bundled into one line by connecting the access gateway to the second carrier, and wiring through the second carrier becomes complicated. It is possible to prevent traffic and to make effective use of the line.

[0016] In the above invention, the second communication carrier may be connected to a call destination via an interconnection point from the outside to the inside of the first communication carrier. In this case, even when a communication route via the second carrier is selected, connection to the first carrier via the interconnection point is also possible, and the first carrier is also provided. It is possible to communicate with the callees belonging to the above through the second carrier.

[0017] In the above invention, it is preferable that a call agent unit is provided in the IP network, and the call agent converts a voice signal into packet data and transmits / receives the packet data to / from each other, thereby enabling a call. In this case, VoIP communication through the IP network becomes possible, and communication through the IP network becomes possible.

Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication network system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an access gateway 3 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a state transition diagram showing switch switching control by a control unit 35 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a control and communication procedure of the access gateway 3 in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional communication network.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a communication network system according to the present embodiment.

(Configuration of Communication Network System)

As shown in the figure, the communication network system according to the present embodiment uses a communication network of a first carrier 4, a communication network of a second carrier 5, and an IP network 6 for a telephone set 1 used by a subscriber. A plurality of communication paths can be connected via the access gateway 3.

[0021] The first carrier 4 is a telecommunications carrier that provides communication services, and is a first-class communication carrier that owns its own communication equipment and provides services. The first carrier 4 has a plurality of group centers 41 and 46 and zone centers 42 and 45, and performs communication by relaying between these centers. Also, the first carrier 4 has a line database 47, and by registering another carrier such as the second carrier 5 in the line database 47, the identification for identifying the other carrier is performed. It preferentially connects to the telecommunications carrier who does not need to dial a number, and provides connection services to the second carrier 5 etc. through POIs 43 and 44.

[0022] The POIs 43 and 44 are interconnection points of the lines owned by the respective telecommunications carriers. The call charges and the line usage charges are the usage charges for the first carrier 4 from the subscriber's home to the POIs 43 and 44, and the POI 43 , 44 The sum of the fee for the second carrier 5 beyond 44.

Further, the first carrier 4 is provided with monitoring means 48, which is connected to the line la of the subscriber 1 via the access gateway 3 and monitors the line state of the line la. I do. The second carrier 5 includes, in addition to the first-class telecommunications carrier, a second-class telecommunications carrier that provides services by renting first-class telecommunications facilities. The second carrier 5 is interconnected with the first carrier 4 through the POIs 43 and 44, so that it is possible to communicate with the subscriber 2 of the first carrier 4 also via the second carrier 5. .

The second carrier 5 has a TDM 52, and is connected to the access gateway 3 through the TDM 52 and the TDM 51 installed in the station of the first carrier 4. The TDMs 51 and 52 are multiplexing devices that divide the time to use a shared line into equal parts, multiplex by sequentially allocating the shared line to multiple lines, bundle multiple lines, and share one line. .

The IP network 6 is constructed by interconnecting various communication lines (public lines such as telephone lines, ISDN lines, and ADSL lines, dedicated lines, and wireless communication networks) using the communication protocol TCP / IP. This is a distributed communication network, and this IP network includes LANs such as intranets (corporate networks) using 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX, and home networks.

[0027] On the IP network 6, a call agent 61 is installed. The call agent 61 is a call control device that substitutes the function of a transit exchange of the existing telephone network for the IP network 6 when providing a telephone service on the IP network 6, and is realized by a VoIP server, a SIP server, or the like. .

(Configuration of Access Gateway)

The access gateway 3 enables communication between the telephone 1 and the communication lines of the first and second carriers 4 and 5 and the IP network 6 by mutually converting data having different communication media and protocols. This device absorbs differences in communication media and transmission methods and enables connection between different models.

FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration of the access gateway 3. As shown in the figure, the access gateway 3 according to the present embodiment includes a subscriber side connection terminal 30, a first carrier connection terminal 31, a second carrier connection terminal 32, and an IP network connection terminal 33. And a switch 30a for selectively connecting any one of the connection terminals 31 to 33 to the subscriber-side connection terminal 30.

[0030] The subscriber connection terminal 30 is connected to the telephone set used by the subscriber 1, and is connected to the first carrier. The terminal 31 is connected to the monitoring means 48 of the first carrier 4, the connection terminal 32 for the second carrier is connected to the second carrier 5 via the TDMs 51 and 52, and the connection terminal 33 for the IP network is connected to the IP network 6. It has been.

[0031] A control unit 35 is connected to the switch 30a, and switching of the switch is controlled by the control unit 35. The control unit 35 includes a hooking detection unit 35b that detects a hooking state of the telephone 1 and a dial detection unit 35a that detects a call destination dialed on the telephone 1. FIG. 3 is a state transition diagram showing switch switching control by the powerful control unit 35.

First, while the telephone 1 is not in use, that is, while the hooking detection unit 35b detects the on-hook state of the telephone 1, the subscriber connection terminal 30 is connected to the first carrier connection terminal 31. Then, (state (1) in FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0033] Next, when the telephone 1 is off-hook and the on-hook state is released, the telephone 1 temporarily goes into the -eutral state, and when the dial detecting unit 35a detects the dial of the specific call destination, the second carrier Connect to the connection terminal 32 (state (3) in FIGS. 2 and 3), and if it is a normal dial where the specific call destination is not detected, connect to the IP network connection terminal 33 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). State (2)). When the telephone call through the second carrier 5 or the VoIP connection through the IP network 6 is terminated and the terminal goes into an on-hook state, the subscriber terminal 30 is connected to the first carrier terminal 31 (FIG. 2). And the state in 3 (1)).

[0034] In the present embodiment, the specific call destination is, for example, a telephone number that provides a so-called 1XX number service such as 110 to 119, 177, 117, 104, and 106. Call partner. The telephone numbers of these specific call destinations are held as table data in a memory built in the dial detection unit 35a, and each time a dial is detected, the table data is referred to to determine the call destination.

(Access Gateway Control Method)

In the communication network described above, communication using the access gateway 3 is performed in the following procedure. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a control and communication procedure of the access gateway 3 in the present embodiment.

[0036] As shown in the figure, the telephone 1 is not used, that is, the hooking detection unit. While the on-hook state of the telephone 1 is detected by the terminal 35b, the subscriber connection terminal 30 is connected to the first carrier connection terminal 31. During this time, the monitoring of the line la is performed by the monitoring means 48 of the first carrier (S101).

Next, when the telephone 1 is off-hook (S102) and the on-hook state is released, a change in the hooking state is detected by the hooking detection unit 35b (S103), and the telephone 1 is temporarily set in the neutral state (S104). Then, the connection to the first carrier 4 is disconnected. Thereafter, the telephone 1 dials (S105), and the dialed identifier (telephone number) is detected by the dial detecting unit 35a (S106).

[0038] The dial detector 35a determines whether or not the telephone number dialed on the telephone 1 is a specific number (S107). If it is determined that the telephone number is not the telephone number of the specific call destination, Then, it is connected to the IP network connection terminal 33 ("N" in step S107), and a call is established by VoIP connection (S108) through the IP network 6 (S110). On the other hand, in step S107, if it is the telephone number of the specific call destination, it is connected to the second carrier connection terminal 32 (“Y” in step S107), and the normal voice call (S109 ) To establish a call (S110).

After that, when the telephone 1 is set to the on-hook state in order to terminate the call through the second carrier 5 or the VoIP connection through the IP network 6 (S111 and S112), this is detected by the hooking detection unit 35b, The connection to the second carrier connection terminal 32 or the IP network connection terminal 33 is disconnected, and the subscriber side connection terminal 30 is connected to the first carrier connection terminal 31 (S114). As a result, the monitoring of the line la by the monitoring means 48 of the first carrier is resumed (S114 and S115

) o

[0040] (effect)

According to the communication network system, the access gateway 3 and the control method thereof according to the embodiment described above, when the telephone 1 is on-hook, the subscriber's line is connected to the first carrier 4, The line la can be monitored in one carrier 4. Then, when the subscriber releases the on-hook state of the telephone 1 that is busy with the call, the second carrier 5 or the IP network 6 is selectively switched according to the telephone number or IP address of the call destination. Can be connected. Thereby, in this embodiment, a specific communication carrier, that is, The first carrier 4 performs maintenance and management of the line la, and when connected for communication, the subscriber can select an arbitrary communication path, that is, the second carrier 5 or the IP network 6 by dialing. The possibility of

As described above, according to the present invention, in a communication network in which a plurality of communication paths can be connected to a telephone set used by a subscriber via an access gateway, communication through an IP network is performed. Calls can be made through other telecommunications carriers, and line maintenance and management can be performed by specific telecommunications carriers.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A communication network system in which a plurality of communication paths can be connected to a telephone used by a subscriber via an access gateway,

The access gateway,

A subscriber connection terminal connected to a telephone used by the subscriber,

Hooking detection means for detecting a hooking state of the telephone;

Callee detection means for detecting a callee dialed on the telephone, a first connection terminal connected to monitoring means possessed by a first communication carrier,

A second connection terminal for making a call via the second carrier;

A third connection terminal connected to the IP network,

Switch means for selectively connecting any one of the first to third connection terminals to the subscriber-side connection terminal;

With

The switch means,

When the hooking detecting means detects the on-hook state of the telephone, it connects to the first connection terminal, and when the on-hook state is released, connects to the third connection terminal;

When the call destination detecting means detects a predetermined call destination, the call is connected to the second connection terminal.

A communication network system, characterized in that:

[2] The communication network system according to claim 1, wherein the second connection terminal is connected to a time division multiplexing device of the second communication carrier.

3. The second communication carrier according to claim 1, wherein the external power of the first communication carrier is also connected to the called party via an internal interconnection point. Communication network system.

[4] The IP network according to claim 1, wherein a call agent unit is provided, and the call agent converts a voice signal into packet data and transmits / receives the packet data to / from each other, thereby enabling a call. The communication network system as described.

[5] a subscriber connection terminal connected to a telephone used by the subscriber,

Hooking detection means for detecting a hooking state of the telephone;

A second connection terminal for making a call via the second carrier;

A third connection terminal connected to the IP network,

With

The switch means,

An access gateway, characterized in that:

6. The access gateway according to claim 5, wherein the second connection terminal is connected to a time division multiplexing device of the second communication carrier.

[7] Connected to the telephone used by the subscriber through the subscriber connection terminal,

Connected to the monitoring means of the first carrier through the first connection terminal, and made a call via the second carrier through the second connection terminal;

Connected to the IP network through the third connection terminal,

A method for controlling an access gateway for selectively connecting any one of the first to third connection terminals to the subscriber-side connection terminal,

When the on-hook state of the telephone is detected, the subscriber-side connection terminal is connected to the first connection terminal, and when the on-hook state is released, the subscriber-side connection terminal is connected to the third connection terminal. Connect to the connection terminal,

If the call destination detecting means detects a predetermined call destination, the subscriber side connection terminal Connector to the second connection terminal

A method of controlling an access gateway.