JPH0936986A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system with which communication can be performed by a telephone set or facsimile equipment while utilizing a computer network. SOLUTION: When performing speech between a telephone set 1a and a telephone set 13a, a computer 5 is called from the telephone set 1a and the telephone number of the telephone set 13a is inputted. The computer 5 selects a computer 9 to be the connecting party from the telephone number and sends the telephone number to the computer 9. The computer 9 calls the telephone set 13a. Then, speaking is executed between the telephone sets 1a and 13a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system using a computer network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a system for performing telephone communication using a computer, there is a system called a party line as shown in FIG. In this system, one computer 101 (or one set of computer networks) and a plurality of telephones 103a, 103b, ... 103
It consists of n.

For example, while the telephone 103a is making a call to the computer 101, the telephone 103n
If you call the computer 101 from
A call can be made between 03a and the telephone 103n.

[0004]

However, in the system as shown in FIG. 3, the operator of the telephone set 103a cannot make a call to the desired party. That is, the operator of the telephone 103a is making a call to the computer 101, and if a call is made to the computer 101 from any of the telephones during this time, a telephone call can be made between the telephone 103a and the telephone. Just a phone 1
The operator of 03a cannot make a call to the desired party. Also, when using a computer network (personal computer communication) in a general home, it is necessary to purchase a computer and a modem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system capable of performing communication by a telephone or a facsimile machine using a computer network.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first invention is a communication system having a plurality of telephones connected to a computer network, the first telephone to the second telephone. The communication system is characterized in that a call is made and a call is made between the first telephone and the second telephone via the computer network. A second invention is a communication system having a plurality of telephones connected to a computer network,
The communication system is characterized in that the third telephone calls the computer network, and a command is input to the computer network from the third telephone.

A third invention is a communication system having a plurality of telephones connected to a computer network, wherein the fourth telephone calls the computer network and information provided by the computer network is provided to the fourth telephone. It is a communication system characterized by outputting by. A fourth invention is a communication system having a plurality of facsimile devices connected to a computer network, wherein communication is performed between the first facsimile device and the second facsimile device via the computer network. The communication system is characterized by

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a communication system having a plurality of facsimile devices connected to a computer network, wherein the third facsimile device calls the computer network, and the third network is sent to the computer network. The communication system is characterized by inputting a command from a facsimile device. A sixth invention is a communication system having a plurality of facsimile devices connected to a computer network,
A fourth communication system is characterized in that a fourth facsimile machine calls the computer network and information provided by the computer network is output by the fourth facsimile machine.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Phone 1
, a are connected to the computer 5 via telephone lines 3a, 3b, .... The computer 5 is connected to another computer 9 via a computer network such as the Internet 7. Note that the Internet 7 is also connected to another computer (not shown).

The telephones 13a, 13b, ... Are connected to the computer 9 via telephone lines 11a, 11b ,. The telephones 1a, 1b, ... 13a, 13b ,. Telephone lines 3a, 3
b, the telephone lines 11a and 11b are normal analog telephone lines. The computers 5 and 9 function as a server in the Internet 7 and are multimedia-compatible computers having a communication function, a data-voice conversion function, and the like.

Next, the general operation of this communication system will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. For example, the case of calling from the telephone 1a to the telephone 13a to make a call will be described. First, the operator of the telephone 1a calls and connects to the computer 5 (step 201), and inputs the telephone number of the telephone 13a with the button (step 2).
02). The operations in steps 201 and 202 may be executed as a series of operations.

From the received telephone number, the computer 5 selects the computer 9 which is the closest connection partner to the telephone 13a, starts the connection, and sends the telephone number of the telephone 13a to the computer 9 (step 203). The computer 9 calls the telephone 13a via the telephone line 11a (step 204). Then, a telephone call is made between the telephone 1a and the telephone 13a (step 205).

For example, when the operator of the telephone 1a speaks, the computer 5 converts the analog information sent from the telephone 1a into digital information and sends it to the computer 9 via the Internet 7. The computer 9 converts the received digital information into analog information, and the telephone line 11
It is sent to the telephone set 13a via a.

On the contrary, when the operator of the telephone 13a speaks,
The computer 9 converts the analog information sent from the telephone 13a into digital information and sends it to the computer 5 via the Internet 7. The computer 5 converts the received digital information into analog information and sends it to the telephone 1a via the telephone line 3a. In this way, a telephone call is made between the telephone set 1a and the telephone set 13a. When the call ends, the communication between the computer 5 and the computer 9 also ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a desired partner can be called by using the computer network to make a call. Especially when making a call with a foreign party, the cost of the Internet 7 is lower than the normal telephone charge, so that the cost can be reduced.

Next, a second embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment, each telephone uses information on the Internet 7. That is, the service on the Internet 7 is used by calling the computer 5 from the telephone 1a.

For example, an electronic mail will be described as an example.
The operator of the telephone 13a inputs an e-mail to the operator of the telephone 1a by button or voice. The computer 5 stores this e-mail. When the operator of the telephone 1a calls the computer 5 and has a mail for himself, the mail is output from the telephone 1a as a voice or on the liquid crystal display of the telephone 1a.

An operator of a personal computer (not shown) sends an electronic mail to the operator of the telephone 1a by using the personal computer, and the computer 5 stores the electronic mail. When the operator of the telephone 1a calls the computer 5, if there is a mail for himself, the computer 5 converts the electronic mail into a voice signal and the voice is output from the telephone 1a. Alternatively, when the operator of the telephone 1a calls the computer 5, if there is a mail for himself, it is displayed as character information on the liquid crystal display of the telephone 1a.

Not only electronic mail but also information such as schedule adjustment and work report can be stored in a computer network, and the information can be output by voice from a telephone or displayed on a display.

As described above, in such a communication system, the computer network service can be used at a low charge by using the telephone. Therefore, general household users can use the computer network service without purchasing a modem or a computer.
In the above-mentioned respective embodiments, the telephones 1a, 1b ...
Is an analog type telephone, but a digital type telephone and a digital line may be used. As a telephone, a mobile phone or PHS (Personal Handyphone Sy
stem) may be used.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the telephone is connected to the computer network for communication has been described, but the facsimile may be connected to the computer network to perform various communications. For example, communication costs can be reduced by communicating with overseas facsimile machines via the Internet. It is also possible to connect a facsimile device to a computer network, output characters and image information on the computer network to the facsimile device, or input from the facsimile device to access the computer network.

For example, a menu of a computer network is output to a facsimile machine, and a menu item is selected by a button operation of the facsimile machine to give an output instruction. Also, the music and sound information on the computer network is output to the facsimile as image information.

Further, a telephone, a facsimile machine, a personal computer or the like may be connected to a computer network so that these devices can be used in combination. For example, a telephone is used to connect to a computer network and output information on the computer network to a facsimile machine. You can also combine pagers. That is, information on the computer network can be output to a pager. In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the Internet 7 is used as the computer network is taken up, but the computer network is not limited to the Internet, and other domestic networks (personal computer communication) may be used.

[0024]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, communication can be performed by a telephone or a facsimile machine using a computer network.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a telephone communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing of the telephone communication system.

[Figure 3] Basic configuration diagram of the party line

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b ... Telephones 3a, 3b ... Telephone lines 5, 9 ... Computer 7 ... Internet 11a, 11b ... Telephone lines 13a, 13b ... Telephones

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A communication system having a plurality of telephones connected to a computer network, wherein a first telephone calls a second telephone, and between the first telephone and the second telephone. A communication system characterized by making a call through a computer network. 2. A communication system having a plurality of telephones connected to a computer network, which calls the computer network from a third telephone and inputs a command to the computer network from the third telephone. A communication system characterized by. 3. A communication system having a plurality of telephones connected to a computer network, wherein a fourth telephone calls the computer network and the information provided by the computer network is output by the fourth telephone. A communication system characterized by. 4. A communication system having a plurality of facsimile devices connected to a computer network, wherein communication is performed between a first facsimile device and a second facsimile device via the computer network. Characterized communication system. 5. A communication system having a plurality of facsimile devices connected to a computer network, wherein a third facsimile device calls the computer network and commands the computer network from the third facsimile device. A communication system characterized by inputting. 6. A communication system having a plurality of facsimile devices connected to a computer network, wherein a fourth facsimile device calls the computer network and information provided by the computer network is transferred to the fourth facsimile device. A communication system characterized by outputting.