U.S. patent application number 11/595852 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-07 for telephone applicable to pstn and ip network and call connection control method.
Invention is credited to Toshiyuki Matsuda, Satoshi Matsuhashi, Taro Ogawa, Kouichi Shimizu.
Application Number | 20070127679 11/595852 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33501464 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070127679 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsuhashi; Satoshi ; et
al. |
June 7, 2007 |
Telephone applicable to PSTN and IP network and call connection
control method
Abstract
A telephone applicable to PSTN and IP network having functions
of obtaining, when a call is originated by entering a PSTN
telephone number, an IP network telephone number of a destination
telephone corresponding to the PSTN telephone number from a
telephone number translation server connected to the IP network,
obtaining IP address information of the destination telephone
corresponding to the IP network telephone number from a call agent
connected to the IP network, establishing call connection with the
destination telephone via the IP network by using the IP address
information, and establishing call connection with the destination
telephone via the PSTN if the IP network telephone number of the
destination telephone cannot be obtained from the telephone number
translation server.
Inventors: |
Matsuhashi; Satoshi;
(Yokohama, JP) ; Matsuda; Toshiyuki; (Yokohama,
JP) ; Shimizu; Kouichi; (Chigasaki, JP) ;
Ogawa; Taro; (Kamakura, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MATTINGLY, STANGER, MALUR & BRUNDIDGE, P.C.
1800 DIAGONAL ROAD
SUITE 370
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
33501464 |
Appl. No.: |
11/595852 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10635552 |
Aug 7, 2003 |
|
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|
11595852 |
Nov 13, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/218.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/2535 20130101;
H04M 7/0057 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/218.01 |
International
Class: |
H04M 3/42 20060101
H04M003/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 2003 |
JP |
2003-123632 |
Claims
1. A telephone applicable to a public switched telephone network
(PSTN) and an IP network, comprising: a cache table for storing
mappings between PSTN telephone numbers and IP network telephone
numbers of telephones having been called before from the telephone;
means for searching said cache table, when a call is originated by
entering a PSTN telephone number, for an IP network telephone
number of a destination telephone corresponding to the entered PSTN
telephone number, and, if the IP network telephone number of the
destination telephone does not exist in the cache table,
communicating with a telephone number translation server connected
to the IP network and obtaining the IP network telephone number of
the destination telephone corresponding to said PSTN telephone
number; means for obtaining IP address information of the
destination telephone corresponding to the IP network telephone
number obtained from said cache table or said telephone number
translation server, from a call agent connected to the IP network
and establishing call connection with the destination telephone via
the IP network by using the IP address information; and means for
establishing call connection with the destination telephone via the
PSTN if the IP network telephone number of the destination
telephone cannot be obtained from said cache table and said
telephone number translation server.
2. The telephone according to claim 1, wherein said means for
obtaining the IP network telephone number stores a mapping between
the IP network telephone number of said destination telephone,
obtained from said telephone number translation server, and said
PSTN telephone number into said cache table.
3. The telephone according to claim 1, further comprising means for
communicating with said telephone number translation server and
registering a mapping of the telephone's own PSTN telephone number
and IP network telephone number to the server when the telephone is
connected to the IP network.
4. The telephone according to claim 1, wherein, if the entered PSTN
telephone number consists entirely of local exchange code and
subscriber number, said means for obtaining the IP network
telephone number converts the entered PSTN telephone number into a
numbering format including a toll number prior to obtaining the IP
network telephone number of the destination telephone.
5. A telephone applicable to a public switched telephone network
(PSTN) and an IP network, comprising: a cache table for storing
mappings between PSTN telephone numbers and unification identifiers
of telephones having been called before from the telephone; means
for searching said cache table, when a call is originated by
entering a PSTN telephone number, for a unification identifier of a
destination telephone corresponding to the entered PSTN telephone
number, and, if the unification identifier of the destination
telephone does not exist in the cache table, communicating with a
telephone number translation server connected to the IP network and
obtaining the unification identifier of the destination telephone
corresponding to said PSTN telephone number; means for requesting a
call agent connected to said IP network to establish call
connection with the destination telephone via the IP network, based
on the unification identifier obtained from said cache table or
said telephone number translation sever; and means for establishing
call connection with the destination telephone via the PSTN if the
unification identifier of the destination telephone cannot be
obtained from said cache table and said telephone number
translation server.
6. The telephone according to claim 5, wherein, if the entered PSTN
telephone number consists entirely of local exchange code and
subscriber number, said means for obtaining the IP network
telephone number converts the entered PSTN telephone number into a
numbering format including a toll number prior to obtaining the IP
network telephone number of the destination telephone.
Description
[0001] The present application is a Divisional Application of
application Ser. No. 10/635,552, filed Aug. 7, 2003, the contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] (1) Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to IP (Internet Protocol)
telephony systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a
high functionality telephone and a call connection control method
capable of selectively connecting a call originated by entering a
telephone number for a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
subscriber through an IP telephone network.
[0004] (2) Description of the Related Art
[0005] With the development of IP technology, Internet service
providers started IP telephony services as one service content. Due
to the cost effectiveness of IP telephony (Voice over IP VoIP),
lower telephone charges than conventional PSTN telephony, there is
a steep rise in the number of IP telephony users. As the IP
telephony comes into popular use, a telephone numbering scheme
("050" numbers) has been fixed for the IP telephony. In the current
situation, new IP network telephone numbers are assigned to the
telephones of IP telephony service subscribers in addition to the
conventional PSTN telephone numbers.
[0006] As one of prior art approaches for making a telephone usable
in two telephony systems based on different telephone numbering
schemes, for example, in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent
Publication No. Hei 11-257171 (Japanese Patent Document 1), a CATV
telephony system which made a telephone applicable to both a public
telephone network and a CATV telephone network has been
proposed.
[0007] According to the Japanese Patent Document 1, when a CATV
telephone service subscriber originates a call, the call is routed
to a switch on the CATV telephone network if the destination
telephone number is any number other than special numbers such as
"100," "199," "0120," and international telephone numbers. The
switch on the CATV telephone network has a telephone number
translation database for translating public telephone network
subscriber numbers (hereinafter referred to as PSTN telephone
numbers) to CATV subscriber telephone numbers. If the destination
telephone number is a PSTN telephone number, the switch searches
the telephone number translation database for a CATV telephone
number corresponding to the above destination PSTN telephone
number. If the CATV telephone number is found, the switch performs
call connection on the CATV telephone network, using the CATV
telephone number. If not, the switch routes the call to the PSTN
network.
[0008] While PSTN telephone numbers are made open to the public by
a telephone directory or the like, IP network telephone numbers are
not known by a caller, unless an IP telephone user makes its number
known to the public beforehand. Thus, IP telephone service
subscribers cannot help calling each other using conventional PSTN
telephone numbers, unless knowing the IP network telephone number
of a called party. In this situation, a problem is presented that
callers cannot enjoy the benefit of IP telephony, less telephone
charges than the PSTN telephony. It is therefore desirable for IP
telephone service subscribers that a call originated by entering a
PSTN telephone number is automatically connected through the IP
network to the called party if the destination telephone is also an
IP telephone service subscriber. In order to satisfy this need, it
is a challenge how to associate an entered PSTN telephone number
with destination telephone's IP address information.
[0009] In an IP network that applied a gatekeeper, as a call
control server (call agent), which executes, for example, a session
control protocol standardized by ITU-T recommendation H. 323, call
connection between a caller telephone and a destination IP
telephone is established by notifying from an IP telephone to the
gatekeeper an IP network telephone number of the destination, and
by returning destination address information such as an IP address
corresponding to the above IP network telephone number from the
gatekeeper to the caller telephone.
[0010] Unlike local networks such as the CATV network, the IP
network is a large-scale network providing a wide range of
services. Thus, it is desirable to establish call connection on the
IP network for a call originated by entering a PSTN telephone
number by making effective use of existing network resources and
without altering the standardized call connection protocol run by
the above gatekeeper.
[0011] In the telephony system disclosed in the Japanese Patent
Document 1, IP network connection for special numbers is not taken
into consideration, that is, a caller terminal which originates a
call by entering a special number is connected to the PSTN. As for
calls originated by entering a PSTN number other than special
numbers, the switch on the CATV network always executes database
search per call. When this system is assumed to be applied to the
large-scale IP network, a vast database is required and this poses
a problem of a low speed of call connection processing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a telephone
applicable to PSTN and IP network and a call connection control
method which made it possible to establish call connection via the
IP network for calls originated by entering a PSTN telephone
number.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
telephone applicable to PSTN and IP network and a call connection
control method, making it possible to establish call connection
rapidly via the IP network for calls originated by entering a PSTN
telephone number.
[0014] A further another object of the present invention is to
provide a telephone applicable to PSTN and IP network and a call
connection control method which made it possible to establish call
connection via the IP network for calls originated by entering a
PSTN telephone number, utilizing existing call agents connected to
the IP network.
[0015] To achieve the foregoing objects, a telephone applicable to
a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and an IP network,
according to the present invention, includes means for
communicating with a telephone number translation server connected
to the IP network when a call is originated by entering a PSTN
telephone number and obtaining an IP network telephone number of a
destination telephone corresponding to the PSTN telephone number,
means for communicating with a call agent connected to the IP
network to obtaine IP address information of the destination
telephone corresponding to the IP network telephone number, and
establishing call connection with the destination telephone via the
IP network by using the IP address information, and means for
establishing call connection with the destination telephone via the
PSTN if the IP network telephone number of the destination
telephone corresponding to the above PSTN telephone number cannot
be obtained from the telephone number translation server.
[0016] In a embodiment of the invention, the telephone includes a
cache table for storing mappings between PSTN telephone numbers and
IP network telephone numbers of telephones having been called
before from the telephone. When a call is originated by entering a
PSTN telephone number, the above means for obtaining the IP network
telephone number searches the cache table for the IP network
telephone number of the destination telephone corresponding to the
entered PSTN telephone number. If the IP network telephone number
of the destination telephone does not exist in the cache table, the
telephone communicates with the telephone number translation server
connected to the IP network. From the above call agent, the means
for establishing call connection through the IP network obtains IP
address information of the destination telephone corresponding to
the IP network telephone number obtained from the cache table or
the telephone number translation server.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the telephone
includes means for generating a tone or guidance allowing for
discrimination between the IP network and the PSTN through which
the call is connected for users who may do not want call connection
via the PSTN in view of cost.
[0018] One feature of the invention resides in that, when a new IP
network telephone number is obtained from the telephone number
translation server, a new entry of a mapping between the IP network
telephone number and the corresponding PSTN telephone number is
added to the cache table. Another feature of the invention resides
in that the telephone includes means for communicating with the
telephone number translation server and registering a mapping of
the telephone's own PSTN telephone number and IP network telephone
number to the server when the telephone is connected to the IP
network.
[0019] In another embodiment of the invention, the telephone
disclosed herein comprises a cache table for storing mappings
between PSTN telephone numbers and unification identifiers of
telephones having been called before from the telephone, means for
searching the cache table, when a call is originated by entering a
PSTN telephone number, for a unification identifier of a
destination telephone corresponding to the entered PSTN telephone
number, and, if the unification identifier of the destination
telephone does not exist in the cache table, communicating with the
telephone number translation server connected to the IP network and
obtaining the unification identifier of the destination telephone
corresponding to the above PSTN telephone number, means for
requesting the call agent connected to the IP network to establish
call connection with the destination telephone via the IP network,
based on the unification identifier obtained from the cache table
or the telephone number translation sever, and means for
establishing call connection with the destination telephone via the
PSTN if the unification identifier of the destination telephone
cannot be obtained from the cache table and the telephone number
translation server.
[0020] Because the telephone number translation server which
manages telephone numbers in a wide-area network such as the IP
network handles PSTN telephone numbers in such a telephone
numbering format as "0"+"toll number"+"local exchange
code"+"subscriber number," if the calling telephone user dials a
PSTN telephone number consisting entirely of local exchange code
and subscriber number, correct data base search cannot be performed
by simply inquiring, with this PSTN telephone number, the telephone
number translation server for a corresponding IP network telephone
number, owing to different telephone numbering format. In view
hereof, a further feature of the invention is that if the entered
PSTN telephone number consists entirely of local exchange code and
subscriber number, the means for obtaining the IP network telephone
number converts the entered PSTN telephone number into a numbering
format including a toll number prior to obtaining the IP network
telephone number of the destination telephone.
[0021] A call control method in accordance with the present
invention comprises the steps of: (A) communicating with the
telephone number translation server connected to the IP network
when a call is originated by entering a PSTN telephone number and
obtaining an IP network telephone number of the destination
telephone corresponding to the above PSTN telephone number; (B)
obtaining IP address information of the destination telephone
corresponding to the above IP network telephone number from a call
agent connected to the IP network and establishing call connection
between the calling telephone and the destination telephone via the
IP network by using the IP address information; and (C)
establishing call connection between the calling telephone and the
destination telephone via the PSTN if the IP network telephone
number of the destination telephone corresponding to the above PSTN
telephone number cannot be obtained from the telephone number
translation server.
[0022] The call connection control method in accordance with the
invention further comprises the step of storing a mapping between
the IP network telephone number obtained from the telephone number
translation server and the PSTN telephone number into the cache
table, wherein, when a call is originated by entering a PSTN
telephone number, the cache table is searched for the IP network
telephone number of the destination telephone corresponding to the
entered PSTN telephone number and, if the IP network telephone
number of the destination telephone exists in the cache table, the
IP network telephone number is used, if not, the IP network
telephone number of the destination telephone is obtained from the
telephone number translation server.
[0023] The present invention constituted as described above makes
IP call connection using PSTN telephone numbers feasible without
altering existing IP telephone systems and adaptable to a special
number service by IP telephony which is expected to begin in
future. By storing the mappings of previously dialed PSTN telephone
numbers and corresponding IP network telephone numbers in the cache
table, when originating a call to the same destination number
again, speedily call connection is achievable, skipping the inquiry
to the telephone number translation server.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an intelligent
telephone 1 according to the present invention and a schematic of
network topology for call connection.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example
of the intelligent telephone 1.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows an example of a telephone number translation
database held by a telephone number translation server 4.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a format example of a message to be transmitted
from the intelligent telephone 1 to the telephone number
translation server 4.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a format example of a response message to be
transmitted from the telephone number translation server 4 to the
intelligent telephone 1.
[0029] FIG. 6 shows an example of a cache table 20 held by the
intelligent telephone 1.
[0030] FIG. 7 is a program flowchart explaining the operation of a
call connection basic control unit 10.
[0031] FIG. 8 is a program flowchart of cache table update
processing 140 to be performed by a cache control unit 11.
[0032] FIG. 9 is a program flowchart of automatic cache table
update processing 160 to be performed periodically by the cache
control unit 11.
[0033] FIG. 10 is a diagram of one example of call connection
sequence in the telephone system of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 11 is a diagram of another example of call connection
sequence in the telephone system of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 12 is a diagram of a further another example of call
connection sequence in the telephone system of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of a telephone
applicable to PSTN and IP network (hereinafter referred to as an
intelligent telephone) provided with a selective call connection
function according to the present invention and network topology
for call connection.
[0037] Intelligent telephones 1 (1A and 1B) each are connected to a
PSTN 2 through a PSTN interface 108 and connected to an IP network
3 through an IP network interface 107. The PSTN 2 accommodates an
ordinary telephone (PSTN telephone) 7 besides the intelligent
telephones 1. To the IP network 3, as devices relevant to the
present invention, a telephone number translation server 4 which
stores mappings between PSTN telephone numbers and IP network
telephone numbers, an IP call agent (control server) 5, and an IP
telephone 6 are connected. The IP telephone 6 refers to a soft
phone which is realized by software on a personal computer (PC) or
a telephone dedicated to the IP network. In practical application,
a great number of telephones of the above-mentioned types would be
connected to the PSTN 2 and IP network 3.
[0038] The call agent 5 has a database of mappings between IP
network telephone numbers and IP addresses and provides destination
IP address information necessary for the IP telephony or effects
call connection on the IP network in response to request from the
IP telephone 6 or the intelligent telephones 1. In the following,
description will be made, assuming that, for example, a gatekeeper
compliant to ITU-T recommendation H.323 is applied as the above
call agent 5.
[0039] The intelligent telephone 1 comprises a call connection
basic control unit 10, a cache control unit 11, and an IP call
connection processing unit 12 which are realized by software
executed by a processor 200, a cache table 20 which is accessed by
the above cache control unit 11, an own telephone number memory 25
in which the PSTN telephone number and IP network telephone number
of the intelligent telephone 1 itself are stored. In the cache
table 20, a plurality of entries of mappings between destination
PSTN telephone numbers and IP network telephone numbers obtained
from the telephone number translation server are stored.
[0040] Reference numeral 101 denotes a telephone number input unit,
102 denotes a voice I/O unit (a telephone transmitter and
receiver), 103 denotes an off-hook detector, and 104 denotes a path
selector. Under control from the call connection basic control unit
10, the path selector 104 selectively connects the voice I/O unit
102 to a tone/guidance generator 105, a voice-IP packet converter
106, or a PSTN interface 108.
[0041] The tone/guidance generator 105 generates telephone number
tones for PSTN call connection and a tone or voice guidance to
inform the user of call connection processing status transition
such as e.g. during an inquiry for a destination IP network
telephone number or discrimination between the IP network and PSTN
via which call connection is made. The voice-IP packet converter
106 converts transmission voice signal from the voice I/O unit 102
into IP packets to send out the IP packets to the IP network
interface 107 and coverts IP packets input from the IP network
interface 107 into voice signals to output the voice signal to the
voice I/O unit 102. Between the voice-IP packet converter 106 and
the path selector 104, a voice coder/decoder (CODEC) such as e.g.
G.729 is inserted, though it is omitted in FIG. 1.
[0042] The call connection basic control unit 10 starts call
connection control in response to the input of a destination
telephone number and activates the cache control unit 11 and the IP
call connection processing unit 12 during the call control process.
The IP call connection processing unit 12 is provided with
functions to inquire of the telephone number translation server 4
for an IP network telephone number corresponding to the entered
PSTN telephone number and to inquire of the call agent 5 for
destination address information (IP address, etc.) corresponding to
the IP network telephone number. In addition to the call connection
control function, the call connection basic control unit 10 is
provided with a function to register the telephone's own numbers
(PSTN telephone number and IP network telephone number) to the
telephone number translation server 4 via the IP call connection
processing unit 12 periodically or when the intelligent telephone 1
is connected to the IP network.
[0043] For a protocol for communication between the above IP call
connection processing unit 12 and the call agent 5, a
general-purpose call control protocol such as e.g. H.323 is
applied. A protocol for communication between the IP call
connection processing unit 12 and the telephone number translation
server 4 may be either above-mentioned general-purpose call control
protocol or a uniquely selected protocol.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration example of the
intelligent telephone.
[0045] The intelligent telephone 1 comprises a processor (CPU) 200
for performing overall control, a ROM 210 in which several programs
including programs for the above-mentioned call connection basic
control unit 10, cache control unit 11, and IP call connection
processing unit 12 are stored, a RAM 220 in which the
above-mentioned cache table 20 and own telephone number memory 25
and the processor working area are created, a digital signal
processor (DSP) 230 for performing voice processing such as voice
encoding/decoding and voice compression, a packet processor 206,
the IP network interface (MODEM) 107, and the PSTN interface
(analog interface) 108. These components are interconnected by an
internal bus 240. The function of the voice-IP packet converter 106
shown in FIG. 1 is realized by the above digital signal processor
(DSP) 230 and packet processor 206.
[0046] The intelligent telephone 1 further comprises push buttons
(or dials) which function as the telephone number input unit 101, a
telephone receiver (speaker) 102A and a telephone transmitter
(microphone) 102B which constitute the voice I/O unit 102, the
off-hook detector 103 which detects on and off the hook of the
telephone transmitter/receiver, the path selector 104 and
tone/guidance generator 105 connected to the processor 200, an
analog/digital (A/D) and digital/analog (D/A) converter 231
connected to the telephone transmitter and receiver 102A and 102B,
an echo canceller 232 inserted between the A/D and D/A converter
231 and the selector 104, and an A/D and D/A converter 233 inserted
between the selector 104 and the analog interface 108.
[0047] FIG. 3 shows an example of a telephone number translation
database 40 held by the telephone number translation server 4.
[0048] The telephone number translation database 40 contains a
plurality of entries 400-1, 400-2, . . . in which mappings of PSTN
telephone number 41 and IP network telephone number 42 are
registered. In the present embodiment, hold time (or entry valid
period) 43 is also stored which indicates time elapsed since the
registration of the telephone numbers and is referenced so that an
entry for which a predetermined time has elapsed from the
registration is deleted from the database.
[0049] Each entry of the telephone number translation database 40
is generated whenever the call connection basic control unit 10 on
the intelligent telephone 1 periodically reads out the PSTN
telephone number and IP network telephone number from the own
telephone number memory 25 and transmits a telephone number
registration message via the IP call connection processing unit 12
to the telephone number translation server 4. When the intelligent
telephone 1 is disconnected from the IP network, the periodical
telephone number registration procedure for the disconnected
intelligent telephone is discontinued and, consequently, the entry
for this intelligent telephone 1 is deleted from the database 40.
Therefore, for an inquiry occurred during this period, any IP
network telephone number is not returned, and, consequently, IP
call connection to the above intelligent telephone 1 is disabled.
However, when the intelligent telephone 1 is reconnected to the IP
network, the periodical telephone number registration from the
intelligent telephone 1 to the telephone number translation server
4 resumes and IP call connection becomes enabled again.
[0050] When the user of the intelligent telephone 1 enters a
destination PSTN telephone number, for example, "03-9012-3456," an
inquiry message for an IP network telephone number corresponding to
the PSTN telephone number "03-9012-3456" is transmitted from the
call connection basic control unit 10 via the IP call connection
processing unit 12 to the telephone number translation server 4, as
will be detailed later.
[0051] Upon having received the above IP network telephone number
inquiry message, the telephone number translation server 4 searches
the database 40 for an entry 400-1 having the PSTN telephone number
"03-9012-3456" and returns a response message containing the IP
network telephone number "050-789-0123" mapped to the above PSTN
telephone number in that entry to the requesting intelligent
telephone 1. Once having obtained the above IP network telephone
number, the call originated from the intelligent telephone 1
becomes connectable via the IP network. If an entry having the PSTN
telephone number "03-9012-3456" and its mapping inquired is not
found in the database 40, the telephone number translation server 4
returns a response message that the objective IP network telephone
number has not been registered to the requesting intelligent
telephone 1.
[0052] FIG. 4 shows a format example of the telephone number
registration message and IP network telephone number inquiry
message to be transmitted from the intelligent telephone 1 to the
telephone number translation server 4.
[0053] The message 300T to be transmitted from the intelligent
telephone 1 to the telephone number translation server 4 is
composed of an Ether frame header 301 (Ethernet is a trademark of
Xerox Corp.), an IP header 302, a TCP header 303, and a data field
310. The data field 310 is comprised of a command field 311, a PSTN
TEL No. field 312, and an IP Network TEL No. field 313.
[0054] The telephone number registration message contains a
registration command in the command field 311, the PSTN telephone
number of the source intelligent telephone 1 in the PSTN TEL No.
field 312, and the IP network telephone number of the source
intelligent telephone in the IP Network TEL No. field 313. The IP
network telephone number inquiry message contains an inquiry (or
search) command in the command field 311 and the destination PSTN
telephone number in the PSTN TEL No. field 312 with the IP Network
TEL No. field 313 being null.
[0055] FIG. 5 shows a format example of the response message to be
transmitted from the telephone number translation server 4 to the
intelligent telephone 1.
[0056] The response message 300R from the telephone number
translation server 4 has the same structure as the message 300T
and, therefore, is composed of the Ether frame header 301, IP
header 302, TCP header 303, and data field 310. The data field 310
of the response message 300R is comprised of a command field 321, a
PSTN TEL No. field 322, and an IP Network TEL No. field 323.
[0057] When having received the telephone number registration
message from the intelligent telephone 1, the telephone number
translation server 4 registers a new entry into the database 40 and
returns a response message containing a response command which
indicates the data registration completed in the command field 321
and the registered PSTN telephone number and IP network telephone
number in the PSTN TEL No. field 322 and IP Network TEL No. field
323, respectively. If the data registration has failed for some
reason, a response command indicating a registration error is set
in the command field 321.
[0058] When having received the IP network telephone number inquiry
message from the intelligent telephone 1, the telephone number
translation server 4 returns a response message containing an
inquiry response command in the command field 321, the PSTN
telephone number whose mapping inquired in the PSTN TEL No. field
322, and the IP network telephone number mapped to the above PSTN
telephone number and retrieved from the data base 40 in the IP
Network TEL No. field 323. If the inquired IP network telephone
number mapped to the PSTN telephone number has not been registered,
the telephone number translation server 4 returns a response
message containing an error response command in the command field
321 and the PSTN telephone number whose mapping inquired in the
PSTN TEL No. field 322 with the IP Network TEL No. field 323 being
null.
[0059] FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment example of the cache
table 20 on the intelligent telephone 1.
[0060] The cache table 20 stores a plurality of entries EN-1, EN-2,
. . . for mappings between destination PSTN telephone numbers and
IP network telephone numbers obtained by past inquiry sessions with
the telephone number translation server 4 in order to curtail time
required for call connection processing. In this embodiment
example, each entry in the cache table 20 specifies priority 21,
PSTN TEL No. (22), IP Network TEL No. (23), the last calling time
24, total number of calls 25, and average call interval 26.
[0061] For example, when the user enters a PSTN telephone number
"045-123-4567," if the IP telephone number entry corresponding to
this telephone number has not been registered in the cache table
20, the intelligent telephone 1 transmits the IP network telephone
number inquiry message to the telephone number translation server 4
and obtains a destination IP network telephone number
"050-890-1234."
[0062] The call connection basic control unit 10 on the intelligent
telephone 1 performs IP call connection processing, using the above
IP network telephone number, and, if the call connection is
completed successfully, then generates an entry EN-1 of the mapping
between the IP network telephone number "050-890-1234" and the
originated PSTN telephone number "045-123-4567," and registers this
entry into the cache table 20. If the call connection to the above
IP network telephone number "050-890-1234" is unsuccessful, then
the call connection basic control unit 10 judges the IP network
telephone number invalid and registers the entry with the IP
Network TEL No. field 23 remaining empty into the cache table 20.
If an error response to the IP network telephone number inquiry is
returned from the telephone number translation server 4, then the
call connection basic control unit 10 performs PSTN call connection
processing and registers an entry with the IP Network TEL No. field
23 being null into the cache table 20.
[0063] Priority 21 is given to each entry in the cache table 20,
for example, according to the average call interval 26 values
calculated from the last calling time 24 and the total number of
calls 25, so that the highest priority is given to an entry having
the shortest average call interval. If the number of entries
registered in the cache table 20 exceeds a predetermined maximum
number K, an entry having the lowest priory 21 is deleted and a new
entry is added.
[0064] In order to ensure that the cache table contains valid
entries, as will be detailed in FIG. 7, it is advisable that the
cache control unit 11 periodically communicates with the telephone
number translation server 4 and updates the contents of the cache
table appropriately. As for a telephone whose IP network telephone
number has not been registered, for example, as is the case for
entry EN-(k-1) in which PSTN telephone number "0467-567-8901" is
registered, since then, if its user subscribes the IP telephony
service and is assigned an IP network telephone number, the above
cache table update should add the IP network telephone number to
the table entry. Consequently, the next time a call is made to the
number "0467-567-8901," IP call connection can be completed
speedily, using the IP network telephone number mapped to the PSTN
telephone number in the cache table 20.
[0065] The value of average call interval 26 is updated at regular
intervals or each time a call is made through calculation such as,
e.g., using formula (1). Here .DELTA.T is the value of average call
interval at the present, N is the total number of calls at the
present, Tc is time at the present, and Ts is the last calling time
at the present. Average call
interval=(.DELTA.T.times.(N-1)+Tc-Ts)/N (1)
[0066] Here, except for the entry or entries for which the total
number of calls N is updated by a new call, average call interval
should be maintained to the value .DELTA.T during period
Tc-Ts<.DELTA.T.
[0067] FIG. 7 shows a program flowchart explaining the operation of
the call connection basic control unit 10 according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
[0068] Upon receiving a destination telephone number entered by the
calling user (step 111), the call connection basic control unit 10
controls the path selector 104 to connect the voice I/O unit 112 to
the tone/guidance generator 105 (112) and instructs the
tone/guidance generator 105 to send out voice guidance indicating
that a call connection procedure is being executed now (113). The
call connection basic control unit 10 analyzes the telephone number
entered by the user and judges whether the destination telephone
number is IP network telephone number or PSTN telephone number,
subject to whether or not the first three digits of the number are
"050," for example (114). If the destination telephone number is IP
network telephone number, the control unit 10 makes the IP call
connection processing unit 12 start IP call connection processing
121.
[0069] If the destination telephone number is PSTN telephone
number, the call connection basic control unit 10 judges whether
the above telephone number includes a toll number (115). If the
destination telephone number includes a toll number, the control
unit 10 activates the cache control unit 11 and, then, the cache
control unit 11 searches the cache table 20 for an IP network
telephone number corresponding to the destination PSTN telephone
number (117). If the objective IP network telephone number is hit
by searching the cache table 20 (118), the call connection basic
control unit 10 makes the IP call connection processing unit 12
start IP call connection processing 121, based on the above IP
network telephone number.
[0070] Unless the objective IP network telephone number is hit by
searching the cache table 20, the call connection basic control
unit 10 instructs the IP call connection processing unit 12 to
inquire of the telephone number translation server 4 for an IP
network telephone number corresponding to the destination PSTN
telephone number (119) and waits for a response from the telephone
number translation server 4. Upon judgment by the response from the
telephone number translation server 4 (120), if the IP network
telephone number is obtained, the call connection basic control
unit 10 makes the IP call connection processing unit 12 start IP
call connection processing 121, based on the above IP network
telephone number.
[0071] At step 115, if the destination telephone number does not
include a toll number, that is, if the user entered the destination
telephone number consisting entirely of local exchange code and
subscriber number, the call connection basic control unit 10 adds
"0" and "toll number" retrieved from the own telephone number
memory 25 to the head of the above destination telephone number
(116), thus converting it into a numbering format including a toll
number, and performs step 117 and subsequent, using the converted
number. This is because the telephone number translation server 4
connected to the wide-area IP network 3 registers PSTN telephone
numbers 41 in the telephone numbering format of "0"+"toll
number"+"local exchange code"+"subscriber number" on the database
40.
[0072] In the IP call connection processing 121, the IP call
connection processing unit 12 inquires of the IP call agent 5 for
destination address information (IP address, etc.) corresponding to
the IP network telephone number (122). Upon judgment by the
response from the IP call agent 5 (123), if the destination address
information is obtained, the IP call connection processing unit 12
executes an IP call connection procedure (124) to establish call
connection between the calling intelligent telephone and the
destination IP telephone and notifies the call connection basic
control unit 10 of call connection complete. If the destination
address information cannot be obtained, the IP call connection
processing unit 12 notifies the call connection basic control unit
10 that the destination IP address cannot be obtained without
executing the IP call connection procedure.
[0073] Upon receiving the notification of IP call connection
complete from the IP call connection processing unit 12, the call
connection basic control unit 10 controls the path selector 104 to
connect the voice I/O unit 102 to the analog voice-IP packet
converter 106 (DSP 230 and packet processor 206) (125) and, then,
the calling intelligent telephone is put in an IP network mode
connection state (126).
[0074] If the destination address information cannot be obtained
from the IP call agent 5 or if the IP network telephone number
cannot be obtained from the telephone number translation server 4,
the call connection basic control unit 10 instructs the
tone/guidance generator 105 to send out guidance indicating that
PSTN connection mode is selected (130). After that, the call
connection basic control unit 10 controls the path selector 104 to
connect the tone/guidance generator 105 to the voice I/O unit 102
and the PSTN interface 108 (131), and instructs the tone/guidance
generator 105 to send out the tone signals of the PSTN telephone
number (132). Thereby, the tone signals representing the above PSTN
telephone number are sent out to the PSTN 2 and a PSTN call
connection procedure is performed.
[0075] Upon the completion of the PSTN call connection, the call
connection basic control unit 10 controls the path selector 104 to
disconnect the tone/guidance generator 105 from the voice I/O unit
102 and connect the voice I/O unit to the PSTN interface 108 (133),
and, then, the calling intelligent telephone is put in a PSTN mode
communication state (134).
[0076] Upon the completion of the above IP or PSTN call connection
processing, the call connection basic control unit 10 instructs the
cache control unit to update the cache table 20 by designating the
destination telephone number (PSTN telephone number or IP network
telephone number), the result of the inquiry made to the telephone
number translation server 4, the result of call connection, and
other accompanying information to the cache control unit (140).
[0077] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of update processing 140 of the cache
table 20 to be performed by the cache control unit 11 in response
to the update instruction from the call connection basic control
unit 10.
[0078] Upon having received the instruction to update cache table
20 from the call connection basic control unit 10, the cache
control unit 11 searches the cache table 20 for an entry including
the telephone number designated by the call connection basic
control unit 10 (step 141).
[0079] As the result of the table search, if an entry including the
designated telephone number exists in the cache table 20, and if
the IP Network TEL No. field 23 of the entry is null or if the IP
network telephone number registered in this field differs from the
designated number (142), the cache control unit registers the IP
network telephone number designated by the call connection basic
control unit 10 (143). Then, the cache control unit updates the
last calling time 24 to the present time (144), increments the
total number of calls 25 (145), updates the average call interval
(146) to a value calculated, according to the formula (1), and
performs average call interval calculation and priority update for
all entries (150).
[0080] If an entry including the above designated telephone number
is not registered in the cache table 20, the cache control unit
judges whether the number M of entries registered in the cache
table 20 equals the maximum number K (147). If the number of the
entries equals the maximum number, the cache control unit deletes
the k-th entry that is of the lowest priority from the table to
secure space area (148). If the number M of the registered entries
is less than the maximum number K, using space area in the (M+1)-th
position, the cache control unit adds a new entry of mapping
between the PSTN telephone number and IP network telephone number,
designated by the call connection basic control unit 10, to the
cache table 20 and increments the number M of the registered
entries (where M.ltoreq.K) (149). At this time, the cache control
unit sets the present time in the last calling time 24 field, a
value of "1" in the total number of calls 25 field, and a value of
"0" in the average call interval 26 field.
[0081] Next, the cache control unit executes average call interval
calculation. The cache control unit first initializes the value of
parameter i that represents a table entry of interest to 0 (150)
and increments the value of parameter i (151). The cache control
unit reads out the i-th entry EN-i from the cache table 20 (152),
calculates a new value of average call interval by substituting the
values of the last calling time 24, total number of calls 25, and
average call interval 26 for Ts, N and .DELTA.T of formula (1), and
updates the value of the average call interval 26 (153). The cache
control unit compares the value of the parameter i with the number
M of the registered entries (154) and, unless i=M, returns to step
151 and repeats the foregoing operation for the next entry.
[0082] Upon the completion of updating the average call interval
for all registered entries, the cache control unit rearranges the
table entries in order of the average call interval 26 and updates
the priority 21 (155), then this routine terminates.
[0083] FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of automatic cache table update
processing 160 to be performed periodically by the cache control
unit 11.
[0084] The automatic cache table update processing 160 is activated
periodically by, for example, a timer interrupt or the like. After
initializing the value of parameter i that represents a table entry
of interest to 1 (161), the cache control unit reads out the i-th
entry from the cache table (162), activates the IP call connection
processing 12 (163), and makes the IP call connection processing
unit 12 inquire of the telephone number translation server 4 for an
IP network telephone number corresponding to the PSTN telephone
number 21 (164).
[0085] Upon judgment by the response to the inquiry returned from
the IP call connection processing unit 12 (165), if the IP network
telephone number corresponding to the designated PSTN telephone
number cannot be obtained from the telephone number translation
server 4, the cache control unit leaves the IP Network TEL No.
field 23 empty in the i-th entry of the cache table 20 (166) and
compares the value of parameter i with the number M of the entries
registered in the cache table 20 (169). If the value of the
parameter i equals the number M of the registered entries, this
routine terminates. If not, the cache control unit increments the
value of parameter i (170), returns to step 162, and repeats the
same operation.
[0086] At step 165, if the IP network telephone number
corresponding to the designated PSTN telephone number is obtained
from the telephone number translation server 4, the cache control
unit compares the IP network telephone number with the IP network
telephone number existing in the IP Network TEL No. field 23 in the
i-th entry of the cache table 20 (167). If there is a match between
the IP network telephone numbers, the cache control unit executes
step 169. If there is 20 a mismatch between the above IP network
telephone numbers, the cache control unit updates the content of
the IP Network TEL No. field 23 in the i-th entry to the new IP
network telephone number (168) and executes step 169.
[0087] By carrying out the foregoing automatic cache table update
processing 160, the IP network telephone number assigned to a user
who has newly subscribed the IP telephony service can be obtained
automatically from the telephone number translation server 4 and
registered into the cache table 20 beforehand. Accordingly, this
update increases the possibility that IP call connection can be
completed without making an inquiry to the telephone number
translation server 4 for a call originated by the user. Also, the
IP network telephone number of a user disengaged from the IP
network can be deleted from the cache table 20.
[0088] While the automatic cache table update processing 160 is
carried out periodically in the above-described embodiment example,
it may also be preferable in some implementation to carry out the
automatic cache table update cyclically at all times except during
a period when call connection processing is performed after the
user originates a call by modifying the flowchart of FIG. 9 such
that the process returns to step 161 whenever the value of
parameter i has become equal to the number M of the registered
entries at step 169.
[0089] FIG. 10 shows one example of call connection sequence in a
scenario where the user of the intelligent telephone 1A enters the
PSTN telephone number of the intelligent telephone 1B and the IP
network telephone number of the destination telephone 1B is
obtained from the telephone number translation server 4.
[0090] When the calling user enters the PSTN telephone number
through the telephone number input unit 101 (801), the call
connection basic control unit 10 instructs, with designation of the
above PSTN telephone number, the cache control unit 11 to search
for its corresponding IP network destination number (802). The
cache control unit 11 searches the cache table 20 for an entry
corresponding to the above PSTN telephone number (803) and returns
search results (804) to the call connection basic control unit 10
(805). In this example, it is assumed that the IP network telephone
number corresponding to the designated PSTN telephone number does
not exist in the cache table 20.
[0091] The call connection basic control unit 10 that failed to
obtain the IP network telephone number requests, with designation
of the above PSTN telephone number, the IP call connection
processing unit 12 to inquire of the telephone number translation
server 4 for the IP network telephone number (806A), issues to the
path selector 104 a path switching instruction (807) to connect the
tone/guidance generator 105 to the voice I/O unit 102, and
instructs the tone/guidance generator 105 to generate guidance
(810A) indicating that IP network telephone number search is being
executed.
[0092] When having received the IP network telephone number inquiry
request (806A), the IP call connection processing unit 12 transmits
an inquiry request message (901) to inquire of the telephone number
translation server 4 for the IP network telephone number
corresponding to the designated PSTN telephone number, and waits
for a response from the telephone number translation server 4. At
the same time, the path selector 104 connects the tone/guidance
generator 105 to the voice I/O unit 102 (808A, 808B) in response to
the path switching request (807), and the tone/guidance generator
105 generates a tone or voice guidance indicating that IP network
telephone number search is being executed (811A) in response to the
guidance output instruction (810A). The above tone or voice
guidance is output via the path selector 104 to the voice I/O unit
102.
[0093] Upon having received a response message (902) in reply to
the inquiry request (901) from the telephone number translation
server 4, the IP call connection processing unit 12 notifies the
call connection basic control unit 10 of the contents of the
response message (903). In this example, it is assumed that the
response message (902) contains the IP network telephone number
corresponding to the designated PSTN telephone number.
[0094] In this case, the IP call connection processing unit 12
transmits a request message (910), with designation of the IP
network telephone number extracted from the response message, for
requesting destination IP information (IP address, etc.) of the
destination intelligent telephone 1B to the IP call agent 5
according to H.323 protocol sequence. Upon having received a
response message containing the destination IP information (911)
from the IP call agent 5, the IP call connection processing unit 12
transmits a call connection request message (912) to the
destination intelligent telephone 1B, using the received
destination IP information. Upon having received a response message
indicating call connection acknowledge (913) from the destination
intelligent telephone 1B, the IP call connection processing unit 12
notifies the call connection basic control unit 10 of call
connection complete (920).
[0095] When the call connection basic control unit 10 receives the
notification of call connection complete (920) from the IP call
connection processing unit 12, it issues to the path selector 104 a
path switching instruction (830A) to connect the voice I/O unit 102
to the analog voice-IP packet converter 106. In response to the
above path switching instruction, the path selector 104 connects
the voice I/O unit 102 to the analog voice-IP packet converter 106
(831A, 831B). Then, the calling intelligent telephone is put in the
IP network mode connection state (930A, 930B) in which the voice
I/O unit 102 is connected to the destination intelligent telephone
1B through the IP network interface 107. In this state, analog
voice input through the voice I/O unit 102 is transmitted to the
destination intelligent telephone 1B after converted into voice
packets by the analog voice-IP packet converter 106 and, in the
reverse direction, voice packets received from the destination
intelligent telephone 1B are converted into analog voice by the
above analog voice-IP packet converter 106 and the analog voice is
output through the voice I/O unit 102.
[0096] The call connection basic control unit 10 instructs, with
designation of the PSTN telephone number and IP network telephone
number relevant to the present call connection and accompanying
information stating the successful IP call connection, the cache
control unit 11 to update the cache table (add a new entry) (840A)
as the final step of the call connection sequence. In response to
the update instruction, the cache control unit 11 executes the
cache table update processing 140 described in FIG. 8 and registers
a new entry into the cache table 20 (841A).
[0097] FIG. 11 shows another example of call connection sequence in
a scenario where the user of the intelligent telephone 1A enters
the PSTN telephone number of the ordinary telephone 7 which is not
the type applicable to both the PSTN and IP network and the IP
network telephone number of the destination telephone cannot be
obtained from the telephone number translation server 4.
[0098] The sequence from originating a call (801) up to guidance
output (811A) is the same as described for FIG. 10. In this
example, it is assumed that, in reply to the inquire request (901)
from the IP call connection processing unit 12, the telephone
number translation server 4 returns a response message (902) that
the objective IP network telephone number is not found. In this
case, when the IP call connection processing unit 12 notifies the
call connection basic control unit 10 of the contents of the
response (the objective IP network telephone number is not found)
(903), the call connection basic control unit 10 instructs the
tone/guidance generator 105 to generate guidance indicating that
PSTN call connection is in process (821) and a tone or voice
guidance indicating that PSTN call connection is in process,
generated by the tone/guidance generator 105, is output to the
voice I/O unit 102 (822).
[0099] After the output of the guidance indicating that PSTN call
connection is in process, the call connection basic control unit 10
issues to the path selector 104 a path switching instruction (830B)
to connect the voice I/O unit 102 and the tone/guidance generator
105 to the PSTN interface 108, and instructs, with designation of
the PSTN telephone number, the tone/guidance generator 105 to send
out dial tones (834).
[0100] In response to the above path switching instruction (830B),
the path selector 104 connects the voice I/O unit 102 and the
tone/guidance generator 105 to the PSTN interface 108 (831A, 831C,
831D). In response to the above instruction to transmit dial tones,
the tone/guidance generator 105 generates dial tones representing
the designated PSTN telephone number. The above dial tones are
transmitted through the PSTN interface 108 to the PSTN 2 (835A,
835B) and the generated dial tones are also output through the
voice I/O unit 102 (835C) SO the user can hear the tones.
[0101] By transmitting the dial tones (835B) to the PSTN 2, call
connection control processing is initiated and performed, according
to call connection sequence in the PSTN and the calling intelligent
telephone 1A is put in the PSTN mode communication state in which
the voice I/O unit 102 is connected to the destination telephone
through the PSTN interface 108 (931A, 931B). In this state, analog
voice input and output through the voice I/O unit 102 is
transferred over the PSTN in analog voice signal form.
[0102] As is the case for the sequence shown in FIG. 10, the call
connection basic control unit 10 instructs the cache control unit
11 to update the cache table (add a new entry) (840B) as the final
step of the call connection sequence, and the cache control unit 11
executes the cache table update processing 140 described in FIG. 8
(841B). In this case, the IP Network TEL No. field 23 remains empty
in the registered or updated entry of the cache table 20.
[0103] When the tone or voice guidance indicating PSTN call
connection being in process is generated from the voice I/O unit
101 (822), if the user puts the transmitter/receiver on the hook,
as the user may do not want call connection via the PSTN, the call
connection basic control unit 10 detects that the
transmitter/receiver has become on the hook by change in the output
from the off-hook detector 103 and aborts the call connection
sequence.
[0104] FIG. 12 shows a further example of call connection sequence
in a scenario where the user of the intelligent telephone 1A enters
the PSTN telephone number of the intelligent telephone 1B and
request for the destination IP information is issued to the call
agent 5, using the IP network telephone number stored beforehand in
the cache table 2. In this example, it is assumed, as an uncommon
case, that a response message indicating that IP call connection is
disabled is returned from the call agent 5.
[0105] When the PSTN telephone number is entered through the
telephone number input unit 101 (801), the call connection basic
control unit 10 instructs, with designation of the PSTN telephone
number, the cache control unit 11 to search for its corresponding
IP network telephone number (802). The cache control unit 11
searches the cache table 20 for an entry corresponding to the PSTN
telephone number (803) and returns search results (804) to the call
connection basic control unit 10 (805). In this example, it is
assumed that the IP network telephone number corresponding to the
designated PSTN telephone number has been registered in the cache
table 20.
[0106] In this case, the step of making inquiry (901) to the
telephone number translation server 4 is skipped, and the call
connection basic control unit 10 requests, with designation of the
IP network telephone number, the IP call connection processing unit
12 to setup IP call connection (806B). After that, as is the case
for the sequence shown in FIG. 10, the call connection basic
control unit 10 issues to the path selector 104 a path switching
instruction (807) to connect the tone/guidance generator 105 to the
voice I/O unit 102, and instructs the tone/guidance generator 105
to generate guidance (810B) indicating that IP call connection is
in process.
[0107] Upon having received the request for IP call connection
(806B), the IP call connection processing unit 12 transmits the
request message (910), with designation of the IP network telephone
number, for requesting destination IP information to the IP call
agent 5, and waits for a response from the IP call agent. The path
selector 104 connects the tone/guidance generator 105 to the voice
I/O unit 102 (808A, 808B) in response to the path switching request
(807) and the tone/guidance generator 105 generates a tone or voice
guidance indicating that IP call connection is in process (811B) in
response to the guidance output instruction (810B).
[0108] When the IP call connection processing unit 12 receives from
the IP call agent 5 a response message (911) indicating that IP
call connection is disabled for some reason, e.g., destination IP
information is not found or the destination telephone is busy, it
notifies the call connection basic control unit 10 that IP call
connection is disabled (915). In this case, subsequent IP call
connection control processing (912, 913) in accordance with the
H.323 protocol sequence is aborted.
[0109] Upon having received the above notification that IP call
connection is disabled from the IP call connection processing unit
12, the call connection basic control unit 10 changes over call
control from IP call connection to PSTN call connection and caries
out the same sequence as steps 821 through 834 in FIG. 11. Thereby,
call connection in accordance with PSTN call connection sequence is
performed, and the calling intelligent telephone 1A is put in the
PSTN mode communication state in which the voice I/O unit 102 is
connected to the destination telephone through the PSTN interface
108 (931A, 931B).
[0110] The call connection basic control unit 10 instructs the
cache control unit 11 to update the cache table (840C) as the final
step of the call connection sequence and the cache control unit 11
executes the cache table update processing 140 described in FIG. 8
(841C). In this case, the data in the relevant entry having been
registered beforehand in the cache table 20 is updated.
[0111] As is obvious, if an ordinary response message containing
destination IP information is received from the IP call agent 5 at
step 911 in the above sequence example, steps 912 through 920 and
steps 830A through 831B in FIG. 10 are carried out and,
consequently, communication by IP call connection is realized.
[0112] While the above-described embodiment assumes that the
gatekeeper compliant to ITU-T recommendation H.323 is applied as
the IP call agent 5, a server provided with Session Initiation
Protocol (SIP) functions recommended by the Internet Engineering
Task Force (IETF) as a session control protocol for IP multimedia
communication may be applied as the call control server 5. Because
of high expandability of its functions, the SIP draws attention as
a VoIP session control protocol.
[0113] SIP servers use Unification Resource Identifiers (SIP-URIs)
to identify terminals. For example, when a SIP server receives from
a calling terminal a session setup request (SIP-INVITE message) in
which a destination terminal is identified by its SIP-URI, the SIP
server transfers the received message to the destination terminal
(or a home agent). By transferring a response message from the
destination terminal to the calling terminal and an ACK message
from the calling terminal to the destination terminal, the SIP
server sets up a session between the calling terminal and the
destination terminal.
[0114] If the SIP server is applied as the IP call agent 5,
therefore, the telephone number translation server 4 should store
the mappings between PSTN telephone numbers and SIP-URIs instead of
the mappings between PSTN telephone numbers and IP-network
telephone numbers. When an inquiry request in which a PSTN
telephone number is designated is received from the calling
intelligent telephone, the telephone number translation server 4
may return the SIP-URI corresponding to the designated PSTN
telephone number to the calling intelligent telephone. Thus, the
calling intelligent telephone can request the IP call agent 5 for
IP address information for call connection (session setup) by
designating the destination telephone's SIP-URI and, consequently,
communication on the IP network between the calling telephone and
the destination telephone with the SIP-URI can be realized. In this
case, in the cache table 20 on the intelligent telephones, SIP-URIs
are stored instead of IP network telephone numbers 23 as the
unification identifiers of destination telephones.
[0115] As is obvious from the foregoing descriptions, according to
the present invention, a mutual communication though the IP network
among IP telephony service subscribers can be realized simply by
entering a destination PSTN telephone number even if the calling
user does not know the IP network telephone number of the called
user. Thus, telephony service at low telephone charges can be
provided to IP telephony service subscribers. As for special
numbers such as international telephone numbers, "0120," etc., call
connection through the IP network becomes possible if such a PSTN
telephone number and its corresponding IP network telephone number
are mapped and stored beforehand on the telephone number
translation server.
* * * * *