JPH0821993B2 - Multimedia communication processing system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a multimedia communication processing system, and in particular, it utilizes ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network),
In addition, the present invention relates to a line connection method in a multimedia communication processing system for providing a service by connecting a plurality of terminal devices such as telephones, personal computers, and facsimiles, respectively.

[Prior art]

In multimedia communication processing service, telephone,
Fig. 12 shows the connection configuration of a system that connects a plurality of terminal devices such as a personal computer and a facsimile and provides a service using a conventional analog telephone network.

In the conventional analog telephone network 1, various terminal devices such as telephones, personal computers, and facsimiles owned by users are accommodated in the telephone network 1 for each line, and the multimedia communication processing system side also adjusts the traffic volume of each terminal device. The corresponding number of lines were prepared and connected to the telephone network 1.

In FIG. 12, 1 is a telephone network, 2 is a line connection control unit, 3 is a media processing unit, 4 is a main control unit, and 5 is a host device.

In such a system, it has been necessary to make efficient use of resources by sharing a small amount of resources among groups that handle a plurality of media.

In such a connection method, by giving a telephone number to each line and dialing this telephone number, the user's terminal device and the media processing unit 3 of the system are connected and communication becomes possible. .

Further, when the representative telephone number system in which a plurality of lines are represented by one telephone number is adopted, the call made by the user is connected to the media processing unit 3 as soon as there is a free resource. The line connection was completed and communication became possible.

At this time, as the resource management on the system side, it is necessary to manage which medium is currently connected (used) and on which line.

FIG. 13a shows an example of the line connection management table for managing the line connection status of the connection line and the media processing unit.

The media processing unit 3 may have resources as many as the number of connected lines or may have a different number of resources as the number of connected lines. These are all paired according to the table shown in the example of FIG. 13b. It was associated with 1.

In addition, line connection management tables are prepared for each type of media processing unit 3, and connectable lines are uniquely determined.

Therefore, the user's terminal device is connected to the media processing unit 3 corresponding to the telephone number made by each user, regardless of whether the representative telephone number is called or the individual telephone number is called. .

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

In the conventional analog telephone network, a telephone number can be given to each physical line, and a media processing unit (partner) to be connected can be identified and connected for each physical line.

However, when using ISDN, the channels included in the ISDN line identify the media processing unit (partner) to be connected in units, and since channel multiplexing is used, one physical Since a telephone number is given on a signal channel (D channel) basis that controls the physical line, the media processing unit (partner) to be connected by a physical line, such as when using an analog telephone line, has a one-to-one correspondence. It became difficult to attach.

Here, there are the following two points as problems to be solved.

The first point is a means for identifying a media processing unit to which an incoming call is to be connected, and the second point is a means for dynamically establishing a connection path and managing it.

The technique relating to the first point is disclosed, for example, in CCITT Blue Book, Vol. III, III-8, 9 (Japanese translation of CCITT 1988 recommendations) p70-71.

Therefore, when the physical line is shared by multiple tenants, or when multiple media processing units are shared, after identifying the media processing unit (partner) to be connected, the connection path is dynamically established and managed. Means are needed.

In the conventional technology, the media processing unit (partner) to be connected
The connection line and the media processing unit to be connected as a means for identifying and connecting are connected one-to-one on a physical line basis by the line connection management table. However, when using the ISDN line, It was difficult to manage the connection with the media processing unit for each information channel.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to analyze a signal channel information of an ISDN line even when an ISDN line is used to connect a medium to be connected. It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of identifying a processing unit and an information channel to be used, and performing line connection for each information channel similarly to the line connection for each physical line in the conventional analog telephone network.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention are as follows.
It will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[Means for solving the problem]

The following is a brief description of the outline of the typical inventions among the inventions disclosed in the present application.

(1) A plurality of different terminal device groups, a multimedia processing device having a plurality of media processing units and connected to the plurality of terminal device groups via a plurality of ISDN lines, the multimedia processing device and a communication line A multimedia communication processing system comprising a host device connected via a multimedia communication processing system, wherein each media processing unit shares and uses each ISDN line. A called number management table including line numbers of the plurality of ISDN lines and a plurality of called numbers assigned to the respective line numbers; a plurality of called numbers and an upper route number assigned to each called number; An information channel use management table including information channels that use numbers, the upper route numbers, and the media used by the respective upper route numbers. A connection media management table composed of channels, an analysis result obtained by analyzing information of multiplexed signal channels, and media type information from a higher-level device based on the called number management table, information channel use management table, and connection media It is characterized by comprising means for connecting the information channel and the media channel of the corresponding media processing unit with reference to the management table.

[Action]

According to the above-mentioned means, in the multimedia communication processing system for providing services to a plurality of different terminal devices connected via the ISDN line, each information channel (B channel) of the ISDN line and an arbitrary media channel are connected. In order to connect dynamically, analysis result of information of signal channel (D channel) (destination number (DDI number) detected from signal channel and information channel to be used), and
Based on the media type information from the host device, the line connection control at the time of call origination and call termination is performed by referring to the called number management table, the information channel use management table and the connection media processing table. Similar to the case of making a line connection on a physical line basis in a telephone network, an ISDN line can be used to make a line connection on an information channel basis.

Example of Invention

An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the ISDN line connection control unit shown in FIG.

1 and 2, 3 is a media processing unit, 4
Is a main control unit, 5 is a host device, 11 is ISDN, 12 is an ISDN line connection control unit, and the ISDN line connection control unit 12 includes a signal channel control unit 15, an information channel control unit 16, and a network control unit 17. A control channel 18 is provided between the main controller 4 and the network controller 17.

Here, the media processing unit 3, the main control unit 4, and the IS
The DN line connection control unit 12 constitutes the multimedia processing device 6.

In this embodiment, the case where the temporary group speed interface of ISDN is used is described, but the present invention is also effective when the basic interface of ISDN is used.

The media processing unit 3, the main control unit 4, and the host device 5 are each composed of, for example, a computer.

The media processing unit 3 has a function of performing a voice synthesizing process, a voice recognizing process, a FAX protocol process and the like according to a control command from the main control unit 4 after the line connection control is completed and the call is established.

The higher-level device 5 has a function of executing an application for performing a business process such as a notification service and a collation service in the multimedia communication processing system of this embodiment.

And each terminal such as telephone and fax (not shown)
Is connected to the ISDN11, and the ISDN line connection control unit
Communicate with 12.

In the ISDN primary rate interface, 23 information channels (B channels) that send and receive normal data and 1 signal channel (D channel) that controls the usage status of 23 information channels and the connection of the current channel ) Exists, and multiplexed data is transmitted and received on the signal channel.

It has an ISDN line connection control unit 12, a mechanism for dynamically connecting a media channel corresponding to an arbitrary information channel, an information channel use management table, and a called number management table, the control of which is connected to the main control unit 4. Channel 18
Done through.

Further, the main control unit 4 has a connection media management table, and manages the upper path number and the media channel.

The upper route number is a number for identifying the route of a generated call (incoming call or outgoing call) between the main control unit 4 and the upper device 5 in the system of this embodiment.

Types of control signals include a call setup request to the multimedia communication processing system, a call setup request from the multimedia communication processing system, and switching of media channels during call establishment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ISDN line control unit 12 is provided with a signal channel control unit 15 and an information channel control unit 16 in order to process two types of data having different properties.

Of the analysis result of the message data in the signal channel, the higher order path number is sent from the network control section 17 to the main control section 4 through the control channel 18, and the main control section 4 sends the higher order path number to the higher order apparatus 5 for use. Receive notification of media type.

The main control unit 4 determines the media channel to be used,
The network control unit 17 is instructed to connect the line through the control channel 18.

The information channel control unit 12 connects the information channel of a desired number and the media processing channel of the media processing unit 3 to be connected, and establishes a connection path for data transmission / reception.

In the present embodiment, 23 channels Xn information channels are regarded as the same as the telephone lines of the conventional analog telephone network, and the incoming call number assigned to each ISDN line [a plurality of numbers can be given by a DDI (Direct Dial In) contract. Can be used] to identify the media processing unit to be used.

FIG. 3 shows a called number management table indicating what kind of called number each ISDN line uses.

Further, FIG. 4 shows an information channel utilization management table for managing the correspondence relationship between the number of information channels used by each called number and the information channel (B channel) used and the upper route number.

Further, FIG. 5 shows a connection media management table for managing the correspondence relationship between the media channel used and the upper path number.

Next, a connection sequence for connecting the information channel of the ISDN line and the media channel of the media processing unit 3 will be specifically described below.

(1) Regarding line connection sequence at the time of incoming call FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the line connection sequence at the time of incoming call in the ISDN line connection, and FIG. 8 is an explanation for explaining the operation of FIG. It is a figure.

In FIG. 6, 601 (15) and 602 (15) are line control units, 603 (16) is an input highway, 604 (16) is a channel memory, 605 (16) is a control memory, and 606 (16) is an output. Highway, 607A (3), 607B (3) are media processing units, 608
(4) is a main control unit, 609 (16) is a highway control unit, 610
(17) is a network control unit, and 611 (15) is a D channel control unit.

The reference numerals in the parentheses are those corresponding to FIG.

In FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, ~ indicates the operation order (step number), SETUP is a call setup message, CALL PROC is a call setup acceptance message, and ALERT.
Is a call message, DISC is a disconnect message, REL COMP is a release completion message, CONN is a response message, and CONN ACK
Is a response confirmation message.

Table 1 is an example of the information channel use management table, and Table 2 is an example of the connected media management table.

The called number in the "Called number" column and the upper route number in the "Upper route number" column of Table 1 are fixedly determined according to the provided service, and a plurality of higher numbers are assigned to one called number. A route number is allowed to be assigned, which allows multiple users to use the same service at the same time.

Further, the number of users who can use the same service at the same time is limited by the number of upper-layer route numbers corresponding to one incoming call number.

Also, the route of the B channel to be used is dynamically determined,
In this case, the number of the B channel that uses the higher route number is stored in the "Used B channel" column of Table 1, whereby the higher route of the higher route number assigned to one called number is Manage whether it is in use or not in use.

 This determination method is performed as follows.

(A) Method of determining upper route number At the time of calling (during notification service), the upper route number used by the upper device 612 (5) for service is designated.

At the time of incoming call (at the time of matching service), the upper route number is determined from the signal channel information by the following method (see FIGS. 6, 8 and 10).

(A) Information to be used from the called number (called number: RCVN) and channel identifier information elements from the called number (called number) information element included in the signal channel information (SETUP: call setup message) at the time of incoming call Get the channel (Bj).

(B) Using the information channel use management table (Table 1), the higher order route number (Nj) corresponding to the called number is searched using the called number (RCVN) as a key.

(C) If the searched upper route number is not assigned to a specific information channel (if the upper route number is not in use), this upper route number is assigned to the information channel (Bj) used this time, and Table 1 Let Bj be the column of the B channel used for Ni (the upper route number is determined).

(D) If the searched upper route number is assigned to a specific information channel (when the upper route number is in use), another upper route number corresponding to the called number is searched again, and the above (b) ) Or (c) is repeated (a plurality of upper route numbers are associated with one called number in Table 1).

(E) When (d) is repeated and all the searched upper route numbers are in use (when all upper route numbers that can be used simultaneously for the same number are in use), the total number exceeds and the upper routes are exceeded. Unable to assign number, clear call.

(B) Method of discriminating media type in host device 612 (5) In this embodiment, the service provided in the multimedia system is uniquely determined for the host path number.

Also, the media type is the media processing unit 607A to be used.
(3), 607B (3) ... This information specifies the order of the media processing units to be used depending on the provided service.

Therefore, the host device 612 (5) determines the service to be provided (when the call arrives, the service is determined by the host route number) to determine the media type according to the service sequence.

The media type in FIGS. 6 and 8 and FIGS. 7, 9, 10, and 11 described later indicates the type of the media processing unit that is first connected in communication with the user.

In the system of this embodiment, multimedia services are realized by switching media during communication.

Since the service to be provided is determined by the higher-level route number, the main control unit 608 outputs information about the sequence of the service to be provided.
In case of (4), it is possible to determine the media type in the main control unit 608 (4), but since the information related to the provided service is collectively managed in the host device 612 (5), the media type Will be determined by the host device.

In Table 2 above, the upper route number in the column of "upper route number" is fixedly determined, and the used media channel is dynamically determined.

Here, the media channel is the media processing unit 607A.
(3), 607B (3) ... And the information channel control unit 16
It is a number for identifying a route to and from (FIG. 2).

 This determination method is performed as follows.

The determination of the media channel from the upper path number is made by the main control unit 608 (4) by selecting the media channel of the media processing unit corresponding to the media type instructed by the upper apparatus 612 (5).

At this time, the number of the media channel used in the upper route number is stored in the "Used media" column of Table 2, and the upper route number (Ni) to be used and the used media channel (Mk) are associated (see table). In 2), the media channel used for Ni is defined as Mk) to determine the media channel.

In addition, it manages whether the media channel with that number is in use or unused.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a sequence at the time of line connection from the user.

In FIG. 10, ISDN is the integrated service digital network 11 in FIG. 1, NMU is the ISDN line controller 12 and MCU in FIG.
Is the main control unit 4 in FIG. 1, and ARC is the host device 5 in FIG.

Next, a processing procedure in the case of a call setting request to the multimedia communication processing device in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 8 and 10.

In this embodiment, in the case of a call setup request to the multimedia communication processing device, ISDN (service integrated digital network)
11), the D channel control unit 611 analyzes the call setup message (SETUP) on the signal channel that has entered via the line control unit (601, 602), and the information channel number (B
j) and the called number (RCVN) are sent to the network control unit 610 (Fig. 6, 8).

The network control unit 610 refers to the information channel use management table (Table 1) prepared in advance to refer to the called number (RCVN)
The higher-order route number (Nj) is assigned to the information channel number (Bj) received by using as a key (in FIG. 10).

When the upper route number (Nj) can be assigned, a call message (ALERT) is sent to the ISDN side and the main control unit 608
Notify the upper route number (Nj) to (in Fig. 6 and 8,
).

If the upper path number cannot be assigned, a release completion message (RELCOMP) is sent to the ISDN side and a disconnect message (DISC) is sent to the user.

The main controller 608 sends the upper path number (Nj) to the upper device 612, and the upper device 612 returns the media type corresponding to the upper path number (Nj) to the main controller 608 (in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8,
).

The main control unit 608 refers to the connection media management table (Table 2) and determines the media channel (Mk) to be used from the upper path number (Nj) and the media type.

After that, the main control unit 608 sends the upper path number (Nj) and the media channel (Mk) to be used to the network control unit 610 using the control channel 18 for setting the communication path (see FIGS. 6 and 8). .

The network control unit 610 associates the information channel number (Bj) to be connected with the media channel (Mk) by using the upper path number (Nj) as a key based on the information from the main control unit 608, and sets the communication path to the highway control unit 609. Instruct (in Figures 6 and 8).

After the call path setting in the highway control unit 609 is completed (FIG. 10), the highway control unit 609 notifies the network control unit 610 of the completion of the call path setting (FIGS. 6 and 8).

The network control unit 610 sends a response message (CONN) to the ISDN side, and the network control unit 610 receives the response confirmation message (CONN ACK) from the ISDN side and then the main control unit.
Notify the 608 of connection control completion (in Fig. 6 and 8).

 In this way, the call path is set.

(2) Line connection sequence at the time of making a call FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a line connection sequence at the time of making a call in the ISDN line connection, and FIG. 9 is an explanation for explaining the operation of FIG. It is a figure.

In FIG. 7, 701 (15) and 702 (15) are line control units, 703 (16) is an output highway, 704 (16) is a channel memory, 705 (16) is a control memory, and 706 (16) is an input. Highway, 707A (3), 707B (3), media processing unit, 708
(4) is a main control unit, 709 (16) is a highway control unit, 710
Reference numeral (17) is a network control unit, and reference numeral 711 (15) is a D channel control unit.

The reference numerals in the parentheses are the reference numerals corresponding to FIG.

In FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, the symbols ~ indicate the order of operations (step numbers).

 Table 3 is an example of a called number management table.

In this table 3, the line number and called number are ISDN to be used.
It is decided according to the contract status of the line, and one physical line can have a plurality of incoming numbers by the direct dial-in contract.

When a call is made, the called number corresponding to the higher order route number is acquired from Table 1, and the calling line is determined by obtaining the line number having the called number from Table 3.

 RCVN in Table 3 is a specific called number (incoming number).

The meaning of “management” in each table is that in Table 1, the relationship between the called number and the upper route number changes depending on the type of service provided, and the route of the B channel used changes dynamically. , The media channel used changes dynamically, and in Table 3, the relationship between the line number and the called number changes depending on the ISDN line contract type. Is.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a sequence at the time of line connection from the host device.

In FIG. 11, ISDN is the integrated service digital network 11 in FIG. 1, and NMU is the ISDN line connection control unit 1 in FIG.
2. The MCU is the main control unit 4 in FIG. 1, and the ARC is the host device 5 in FIG.

Next, a processing procedure in the case of a call setting request from the multimedia processing device in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 9, and 11.

In the present embodiment, in the case of a call setting request from the multimedia processing device, the main control unit 708 includes a higher route number (Ni), a media type, and a partner telephone number (RELN) as a call request from the higher device 712. Sent to (Figs. 7, 9).

In the main control unit 708, a connection media management table (Table 2)
The media channel (Mk) to be used is determined from the upper route number (Ni) and the media type by referring to, and the upper channel number (Ni), the media channel (Mk), the other party's telephone number ( RELN) to the network control unit 710 (see FIGS. 7 and 9).

The network control unit 710 refers to the information channel use management table (Table 1), detects the corresponding called number (RCVN) from the higher order route number (Ni) for which the call is requested, and detects the called number (RCVN). ) As a key, the available line number of the callable information channel (Bj) is acquired from the called number management table (Table 3) (in FIG. 11).

Next, the network control unit 710 causes the signal channel control unit (D channel control unit) 711 to send a call setup message (SET
UP) is sent to the other party's telephone number (No. 7,
(Fig. 9), the signal channel control unit 711 transmits a call setup message (SETUP) from the line control unit (701, 702) to the ISDN (Figs. 7 and 9).

The signaling channel control unit 711 uses the call setup acceptance message (C
ALL PROC) and response message (CONN) are received from ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network 11), the information channel number (Bj) to be used is analyzed and notified to the network control unit 710 (No.
(Figs. 7, 9).

The network control unit 710 controls the information channel (Bj) and the main control unit 7
Corresponds to the media channel (Mk) obtained from 08, instructs the highway control unit 709 to set the communication path (Figs. 7 and 9),
In addition, a response confirmation message (CONN NCK) is sent to the ISDN side.

After the call path setting in the highway control unit 709 is completed (FIG. 11), the highway control unit 609 notifies the network control unit 610 of the completion of the call path setting (FIGS. 7 and 9).

The network control unit 710 notifies the main control unit 608 that the connection control has been completed (see FIGS. 7 and 9).

As a result, in the host device 712, the main control unit 708 transfers data (FIGS. 7 and 9), and the main control unit 708 transfers data to the media processing units (707A, 707B) (Seventh embodiment). , Of Fig. 9).

 In this way, the call path is set.

As mentioned above, although the present invention was explained concretely based on an example, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example.
It goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, in a multimedia processing system that uses a plurality of ISDN lines and communicates with a plurality of media processing units, it is possible to freely connect each information channel of the ISDN lines to the media channel. Can
In addition, the same processing as in the case where connection control is performed for each line using the conventional analog telephone network can be performed.

In particular, by using the higher-order route number, the higher-order device does not need to be aware that the line used is ISDN at all, and the same control system as when using the conventional analog telephone network can be adopted.

As a result, it becomes possible to regard the information channel in the ISDN line as in the conventional analog line and perform the line connection control in units of the information channel.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of an ISDN line connection control section shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a called number management table. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an information channel utilization management table, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a connection media management table, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an incoming call in an ISDN line connection. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a line connection sequence, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a line connection sequence at the time of making a call in ISDN line connection, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view for explaining the operation of FIG. 7, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a sequence at the time of line connection from a user, FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a sequence at the time of line connection from a host device, FIG. Is a diagram showing a configuration example of a system in which a plurality of terminal devices are connected. FIG. 13a is a diagram showing an example of the line connection management table when the number of connected lines and the number of media channels of the media processing unit are the same, and FIG. 13b shows the number of connected lines and the number of media channels of the media processing unit. It is a figure which shows the example of the line connection management table in case different. In the figure, 1 ... Telephone network, 2 ... Line connection control unit, 3,607A, 607B,
707A, 707B ... Media processing unit, 4,608, 708 ... Main control unit, 5
… Host device, 6… Multimedia processing device, 11… ISDN
Network, 12 ... ISDN line connection control unit, 15 ... Signal channel control unit, 16 ... Information channel control unit, 17,610, 710 ... Network control unit,
18 ... Control channel, 601, 602, 701, 702 ... Line control unit, 60
3,706… Input highway, 604,704… Channel memory, 605,
705 ... Control memory, 606,703 ... Output highway, 609,709
... Highway controller, 611,711 ... D channel controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A multimedia processing device having a plurality of different terminal device groups, a plurality of media processing units, and being connected to the plurality of terminal device groups via a plurality of ISDN lines, and the multimedia processing device. A multimedia communication processing system comprising a host device connected via a communication line, wherein the multimedia processing system uses the ISDN lines shared by the media processing units. The device includes a called number management table including line numbers of the plurality of ISDN lines and a plurality of called numbers assigned to the respective line numbers, the plurality of called numbers and an upper route number assigned to the called numbers, and An information channel utilization management table consisting of information channels that use upper route numbers, and the upper route numbers and the respective upper route numbers are used. A connection media management table composed of media channels, an analysis result obtained by analyzing information of multiplexed signal channels, and media type information from a host device based on the called number management table, information channel use management table, and connection A multimedia communication processing system comprising: a means for connecting the information channel and a media channel of a corresponding media processing section with reference to a media management table.