COMMUNICATION STATE NOTICE UNIT IN VoIP COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION STATE DISPLAY DEVICE, COMMUNICATION STATE NOTICE METHOD AND MEDIUM WITH RECORDED COMMUNICATION STATE NOTICE PROGRAM

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

In the present invention, the Internet protocol network (hereinafter, the Internet protocol may be abbreviated as IP. In addition, the network and the communication network are used as synonyms. Therefore, the Internet protocol network is an IP network or an IP network. In the voice over Internet protocol that sends and receives voice data via (abbreviated as IP communication network), it is connected to the communication status notification device and the gateway device provided in the gateway device connected to the IP network. The present invention relates to a communication status display device provided in the user terminal, and further relates to a communication status notification method executed by the communication status notification device and a medium on which a communication status notification program used by the communication status notification device is recorded.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, a phenomenon of an increase in data traffic has been observed in various networks such as corporate networks. In conventional networks, data traffic was not as large as voice traffic, but in current networks, data traffic accounts for nearly 70% of all traffic, and data traffic will continue to be used in the future. Is expected to continue to increase.

【0003】

Against this background, the idea of reducing costs by incorporating voice data into a data communication network and unifying the network was born. The Voice over Internet Protocol (hereinafter abbreviated as VoIP) is attracting attention as a technology that embodies this idea.

【0004】

VoIP is a technology for transmitting voice data using an IP network based on IP, which is a data communication protocol. Specifically, by using a device that has a function (VoIP gateway function) that mutually converts various voice signals such as call signals and facsimile signals and IP packets, voice data is converted into IP packets and via an IP network. It becomes possible to transmit with.

【0005】

The implementation form of VoIP will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 22, the VoIP gateway device 1-1, the VoIP trunk 1-2, the Internet telephony terminal 1-3, and the Internet facsimile terminal 1-4 are connected to the IP network 9. Here, VoIP gateway device 1-1 is connected to PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), and analog and digital voice signals and IP packets are connected. The VoIP trunk 1-2 is connected to a switch such as a PBX (private branch exchange) and has a function to convert the voice signal of the switch and the IP packet to each other. is there.

【0006】

In these VoIP gateway devices 1-1 and VoIP trunk 1-2, various voice signals such as call signals and facsimile signals transmitted from telephones and facsimile devices are transmitted via PSTN, ISDN, or exchanges. Then, the voice signal is converted into voice data into an IP packet, which is sent to the IP network 9. When an IP packet containing voice data is sent from the IP network 9, the voice data extracted by decomposing the IP packet is converted into a voice signal and sent to the PSTN, ISDN, or an exchange.

【0007】

That is, these VoIP gateway devices 1-1 and VoIP trunk 1-2 play the role of an interface between a user terminal such as an ordinary telephone or a facsimile machine and the IP network 9 by having the above-mentioned VoIP gateway function. Is playing. In the following, these VoIP gateway devices 1-1 and VoIP trunk 1-2 will be collectively referred to as VoIP gateway devices.

【0008】

On the other hand, the Internet telephony terminal 1-3 and the Internet facsimile terminal 1-4 are directly connected to the IP network 9 and function as user terminals such as telephones and facsimile machines, as well as call signals and facsimile signals. It also has a function to convert voice signals and IP packets to each other. These Internet telephony terminals 1-3 and Internet facsimile terminals 1-4 convert various voice signals such as input call signals and facsimile signals into voice data, convert them into IP packets, and send them to IP network 9. .. When an IP packet containing voice data is sent from the IP network 9, the IP packet is decomposed to extract the voice data, and the voice data is converted into an appropriate voice signal such as a call signal or a facsimile signal and output.

【0009】

That is, it can be said that these Internet telephony terminals 1-3 and Internet facsimile terminals 1-4 are user terminals such as conventional telephones and facsimile machines provided with the above-mentioned VoIP gateway function. Therefore, in the following, these Internet telephony terminals 1-3 and Internet facsimile terminals 1-4 are regarded as one in which the mechanism of the VoIP gateway device and the mechanism of the user terminal are integrally configured. It will be collectively referred to as a VoIP gateway terminal.

【0010】

To summarize the above, VoIP technology uses voice data contained in various voice signals such as telephone calls and facsimile signals by arranging VoIP gateway devices between user terminals such as telephones and facsimile devices and IP networks. Can be said to be a technology that enables transmission via an IP network. By putting VoIP into practical use, voice data can be taken into the IP network and the network can be unified, which has the advantage of reducing costs, and by integrating ordinary communication data and voice data, various things can be done. It also has the added benefit of enabling new services to be realized.

【0011】

However, the VoIP technology that transmits voice data via an IP network also has a disadvantage in voice communication compared to the conventional technology that transmits voice signals via a PSTN or the like. .. In an IP network, one user does not occupy one line, but the destination information of the header of the IP packet determines the destination of the IP packet. Therefore, various IP packets with different destinations coexist in one line.

【0012】

In an IP network, the number of applications used and the number of connected users affect the traffic, so the traffic fluctuates depending on the operating environment and time zone at the time of connection. In the connection via the IP network, the delay time of the voice becomes large because there is a processing delay due to the work of generating and decomposing the IP packet (IP packetization and depacketization).

【0013】

In a connection via an IP network, even if the same IP packet is included in one connection, it may take different routes depending on the route control of the router, so the delay time varies from IP packet to IP packet even within the same connection. Occurs. From the above points, VoIP technology has some problems in terms of QoS (Quality of Service) as compared with conventional voice communication technology.

【0014】

For example, the above-mentioned ya leads to deterioration of voice in voice communication. If more IP packets than the router can handle at one time, especially when the traffic is heavy, congestion will occur and the IP packets will be lost, or the router's buffer will be full and the IP will come later. Packets are dropped. The loss or discard of IP packets due to such congestion can be dealt with by retransmitting IP packets in normal data communication, but there is a risk of causing deterioration in call quality in voice communication that requires immediacy and simultaneity.

【0015】

Further, the above-mentioned ya leads to a voice delay in voice communication. If processing such as compression / decompression by voice CODEC is added to the VoIP gateway device, the voice delay will further increase. In addition, it is difficult to predict the delay time because the transmission path of the IP packet cannot be specified in the IP network. In voice communication that requires immediacy and simultaneity such as telephone calls and facsimiles, such an increase in unpredictable voice delay becomes a major issue.

【0016】

In addition, there are other issues in communication using IP networks. The Internet is a typical example of an IP network, but since the Internet itself is formed by interconnecting networks and terminals around the world, the connection with the Internet is a connection with networks and terminals around the world. Will mean. Therefore, sufficient security measures are required to connect to the Internet. For example, when constructing an intranet in a company, it is customary to take security measures such as a firewall and confidential processing. Similarly, in the case of voice communication by VoIP via the Internet, it is necessary to realize reliable security in order to prevent eavesdropping and interception of voice data.

【0017】

Therefore, when providing VoIP services, various measures are required in terms of communication quality such as QoS and security. Currently, as a device to ensure QoS, USP (user datagram protocol) or RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) is used instead of normal TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) in combination with IP, or higher level. It has been proposed to use RSVP (resource reservation setup protocol) as a layer to perform priority control of voice and secure a band for voice.

【0018】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, since VoIP is basically a best-effort service, it is difficult to always provide the highest communication quality to users even if technologies that improve communication quality such as QoS are introduced as described above. Is. In particular, sudden deterioration of voice quality or inability to perform voice communication during voice communication such as VoIP calls and facsimiles is an obstacle for users to use VoIP voice communication with peace of mind. It becomes.

【0019】

Also, regarding security measures such as concealment processing for voice data, if the user cannot set / cancel appropriate processing or check the operation status at his / her request, the user still uses VoIP voice communication. It hinders the use with peace of mind. Therefore, in order to provide better communication quality to the user, the user can grasp the communication status in the IP network according to his / her request, select the communication technology according to the communication status, or use the IP network. You need a service that allows you to see if you are accepting your request. However, a technology that enables a user to easily grasp the communication status of an IP network by using a user terminal such as a telephone or a facsimile machine has not been developed at present.

【0020】

The present invention was devised in view of such a problem, and enables a user of a VoIP communication system to easily grasp various communication states in an IP network from a user terminal, and a communication state in the VoIP communication system. An object of the present invention is to provide a medium in which a notification device, a communication status display device, a communication status notification method, and a communication status notification program are recorded.

【0021】

Further, the present invention enables a user of a VoIP communication system to easily grasp the traffic status in an IP network from a user terminal and select a communication environment according to the traffic status. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication status notification device in a communication system. Further, the present invention enables a user of a VoIP communication system to easily grasp the state of concealment processing in an IP network from a user terminal and select a concealment process according to the state of the concealment processing. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication status notification device in a VoIP communication system.

【0022】

[Means for solving problems]

The principle of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 shows a VoIP communication system to which the communication status notification device and the communication status display device according to the present invention are applied. In this VoIP communication system, a plurality of VoIP gateway devices 1A and VoIP gateway terminal 1T are IPs. While connected to network 9, at least one user terminal 2A is connected to each VoIP gateway device 1A, and each user terminal 2A and VoIP gateway terminal 1T sends and receives voice data via IP network 9. It is a system to do.

【0023】

Here, the VoIP gateway terminal 1T includes a VoIP gateway mechanism 1T-1 and a user terminal mechanism 1T-2. In the following, when the VoIP gateway device 1A and the VoIP gateway mechanism 1T-1 of the VoIP gateway terminal 1T are collectively referred to, they will be referred to as the VoIP gateway device 1. Further, when the user terminal 2A and the user terminal mechanism 1T-2 of the VoIP gateway terminal 1T are collectively referred to, they are referred to as the user terminal 2.

【0024】

The communication status notification device according to the present invention is a VoIP gateway device 1 used in a VoIP communication system as shown in FIG. 1 (this VoIP gateway device 1 generates and decomposes an IP packet which is a transmission medium of voice data. It is a device provided in (which has a function of transmitting and receiving voice data).

【0025】

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the communication status notification device according to the present invention sets the communication status in the IP network 9 to the user terminal 2 through the VoIP gateway device 1 based on the processing status of the voice data in the VoIP gateway device 1. It is equipped with a communication status notification unit 3-4 to notify to (claim 1). Here, it is preferable that the communication status notification unit 3-4 is configured to have both the functions of the communication status monitoring control unit 3 and the communication status notification unit 4.

【0026】

In this case, the communication status monitoring control unit 3 has a function of monitoring and controlling the communication status in the IP network 9 based on the processing status of the voice data in the VoIP gateway device 1, and the communication status notification unit 4 communicates. It has a function of notifying the user terminal 2 of the communication status monitored and controlled by the status monitoring control unit 3 through the VoIP gateway device 1.

【0027】

Further, as a communication status notification device according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, a form including a requirement analysis unit 5 in addition to the communication status monitoring control unit 3 and the communication status notification unit 4 as described above is also prepared. ing. Here, the request analysis unit 5 includes a request for monitoring / control or notification of the communication status in the IP network in the voice data received by the VoIP gateway device 1 from the user terminal 2 connected to the VoIP gateway device 1. It determines whether or not there is a request, and if a request is included, analyzes the content of the request.

【0028】

Further, the communication status monitoring control unit 3 and the communication status notification unit 4 perform the above-mentioned operations according to the content of the request analyzed by the request analysis unit (claim 2). If the content of the request analyzed by the request analysis unit 5 is related to the start or stop of monitoring / control of the communication status, the communication status monitoring control unit 3 notifies the communication status according to the content of the request. May be configured to start or stop.

【0029】

Further, when the content of the request analyzed by the request analysis unit 5 is related to the start or stop of the communication status notification, the communication status notification unit 4 starts or starts the communication status notification according to the content of the request. It may be configured to stop (claim 3), and when the content of the request analyzed by the request analysis unit 5 is related to the selection of the communication state, the communication status notification unit 4 changes the content of the request. It may be configured to notify the communication status selected accordingly (Claim 4).

【0030】

Further, the communication status notification unit 4 is provided with a notification information storage unit that stores at least one of voice, text, and image information, and uses the information stored in the notification information storage unit to notify the communication status. (Claim 5). By the way, as one aspect of monitoring and controlling the communication status, the communication status monitoring control unit 3 monitors and controls the traffic status of the IP network 9 based on the transmission / reception status of the IP packet in the VoIP gateway device 1. It is also possible to prepare (claim 6).

【0031】

In this case, the traffic status monitoring and control unit sends a signal requesting the router existing on the IP network 9 from the VoIP gateway device 1 to notify the information about the traffic status, and the information notification unit. The traffic information acquisition unit that acquires information about the traffic status notified from the router in response to the signal transmitted by the request unit from the data received by the VoIP gateway device 1 and the notification information reception unit have received it. It may be configured with a traffic state analysis unit that analyzes the traffic state of the IP network 9 based on the notification information from the router (claim 7), or is connected to the IP network 9 from the VoIP gateway device 1. The test packet transmission control unit that causes the other VoIP gateway device 1 to send the test IP packet, and the IP packets received by the VoIP gateway device 1 are returned from the other VoIP gateway device 1. The traffic status of the IP network 9 based on the test packet reception monitoring unit that identifies the test IP packet and monitors the collection status of the test IP packet, and the test IP packet collection status monitored by the test packet reception monitoring unit. It may be configured to include a traffic state analysis unit that analyzes the above (claim 8).

【0032】

In addition, the traffic status monitoring control unit is equipped with a communication quality determination unit that determines the communication quality of voice data in the IP network 9 based on the traffic status monitoring result of the traffic status monitoring unit, and the communication status notification unit 4 communicates. The user terminal 2 may be notified of the communication quality determination result in the quality determination unit (claim 9). In this case, the traffic condition monitoring control unit should change the bandwidth used for voice data from the VoIP gateway device 1 to the router existing on the IP network 9 based on the communication quality judgment result in the communication quality judgment unit. sending a signal requesting a may be provided with a bandwidth change request unit configured to signal (claim 10).

【0033】

By the way, it is also possible for the communication status monitoring control unit 3 to include a concealment processing monitoring control unit that monitors and controls the concealment processing of voice data in the IP network 9 as one aspect of monitoring and controlling the communication status (claims). Item 11). In this case, the concealment processing monitoring and control unit has a concealment processing unit that performs concealment processing on the voice data transmitted and received through the VoIP gateway device 1, and the communication status notification unit 4 uses the status of concealment processing in the concealment processing unit. It may be configured to notify the person terminal 2 (claim 12), and the concealment processing unit is configured to perform at least one of scrambling processing, encryption processing, and interleaving processing as concealment processing. May be (claim 13).

【0034】

In addition, the concealment processing monitoring and control unit determines the status of concealment processing in the other VoIP gateway device 1 based on the transmission / reception status of IP packets between the VoIP gateway device 1 and the other VoIP gateway device 1 connected to the IP network 9. In addition to having a communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit that monitors the above, the concealment processing unit may perform concealment processing based on the monitoring result of the communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit (claim 14).

【0035】

On the other hand, the communication status display device according to the present invention is a device provided in the user terminal 2 also used in the VoIP communication system as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the communication status display device according to the present invention includes a notification information detection unit 6, a display information storage unit 7, and a communication status display unit 8. Here, the notification information detection unit 6 is notified when the information regarding the communication status of the IP communication network monitored and controlled by the VoIP gateway device 1 is notified from the VoIP gateway device 1 to the user terminal 2. The display information storage unit 7 stores information for display of at least one of voice, characters, and images, and the communication status display unit 8 is a notification information detection unit. Based on the information related to the communication status detected in 6, the communication status is displayed using the display information stored in the display information storage unit 7 (claim 15).

【0036】

In the communication status notification method according to the present invention, the VoIP gateway device 1 having a function of transmitting and receiving voice data by generating and decomposing an IP packet which is a transmission medium of voice data is connected to the IP network 9. At the same time, in a VoIP communication system in which one or more user terminals 2 are connected to the VoIP gateway device 1 and the user terminals 2 transmit and receive voice data via the IP network 9, the VoIP gateway device 1 is used. This is a method of notifying the connected user terminal 2 of the communication status in the IP network 9. (A1) Monitoring and controlling the communication status in the IP network 9 based on the processing status of voice data in the VoIP gateway device 1. The communication status monitoring control step to be performed and the communication status notification step for notifying the user terminal 2 of the communication status based on the monitoring result in the (A2) communication status monitoring control step are executed (claim). 16).

【0037】

Further, as another form of the communication status notification method according to the present invention, the communication status in which the request regarding (B1) communication status monitoring / control or notification is transmitted as voice data to the VoIP gateway device 1 in the user terminal 2. In addition to preparing the request step, in the above VoIP gateway device 1, it is determined whether or not the voice data received from (B2) user terminal 2 includes a request related to communication status monitoring / control or notification, and the request is included. If so, the IP is based on the request analysis step that analyzes the content of the request and the processing status of the voice data in the VoIP gateway device 1 according to the content of the request analyzed in the (B3) request analysis step. Use the communication status monitoring control step that monitors and controls the communication status in network 9 and the communication status monitored and controlled in the communication status monitoring control step according to the content of the request analyzed in (B4) request analysis step. It is also possible to execute the communication status notification step of notifying the person terminal 2 (claim 17).

【0038】

Further, a communication state for monitoring and controlling the communication state in the IP network 9 based on the processing status of voice data in the VoIP gateway device 1 for use in the VoIP gateway device 1 used in the VoIP communication system shown in FIG. The computer functions as a communication status notification means for notifying the communication status monitored and controlled by the monitoring control means and the communication status monitoring control means to the user terminal 2 connected to the VoIP gateway device 1 through the VoIP gateway device 1. The communication status is monitored / controlled or controlled by the medium on which the communication status notification program is recorded (claim 18) and the voice data received by the VoIP gateway device 1 from the user terminal 2 connected to the VoIP gateway device 1. A request analysis means that determines whether a request related to notification is included and analyzes the content of the request if it is included, and a VoIP gateway device according to the content of the request analyzed by the request analysis means. In the communication state monitoring control means that monitors and controls the communication state in the IP network 9 based on the processing status of the voice data in 1, and in the communication state monitoring control means according to the content of the request analyzed by the request analysis means. A medium in which a communication status notification program for operating a computer as a communication status notification means for notifying the user terminal 2 of the monitored / controlled communication status through a VoIP gateway device is also prepared (claim 19).

【0039】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(1) Description of 1st Embodiment of this invention Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a VoIP communication system as shown in FIG. 1 including a VoIP gateway device 1A equipped with the communication status notification device according to the present invention will be described.

【0040】

The VoIP communication system shown in FIG. 1 was used to explain the principle of the present invention, but a plurality of VoIP gateway devices 1A and VoIP gateway terminal 1T are connected to the IP network 9, and each VoIP gateway device 1A is connected. It is the same as this embodiment in that at least one user terminal 2A is connected to the user terminal 2A, and each user terminal 2A and the VoIP gateway terminal 1T transmits / receives voice data via the IP network 9. FIG. 1 shall be used to illustrate this embodiment.

【0041】

Although not shown in FIG. 1, IP packets including voice data transmitted and received by user terminals 2 connected via the VoIP gateway device 1 are transmitted on the IP network 9. At the same time, there is a router that controls the route associated with the transmission of IP packets. Further, the communication status in the IP network monitored, controlled and notified by the communication status notification device according to the present invention refers to various information related to the communication quality of voice data via the IP network. The communication status notification device in the form can deal with two types of communication states, that is, the state of the voice data traffic in the IP network and the state of the communication concealment processing applied to the voice data, as specific examples of the communication state in the IP network. It is assumed that it has such a configuration.

【0042】

(1-1) Description of the configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention. (i) Description of Configuration of VoIP Gateway Device Equipped with Communication Status Notification Device According to First Embodiment of the Present Invention First, the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

【0043】

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The VoIP gateway device corresponds to, for example, the VoIP gateway device 1A in FIG. Therefore, it has a VoIP gateway function of transmitting and receiving voice data by performing mutual conversion between a voice signal and an IP packet, and also has a communication state notification function according to the present invention.

【0044】

The VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. 5 has an interface unit 11, a voice codec unit 12, an IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, and a DTMF detection unit 14 as parts that perform a normal VoIP gateway function. Here, the interface unit 11 is connected to an external device and performs interface processing for input / output of an audio signal to and from the external device, and the audio CODEC unit 12 is subjected to interface processing in the interface unit 11. The voice data is compressed / decompressed (CODEC processing) on the voice signal, and the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 converts the voice signal compressed / decompressed in the voice CODEC unit 12 into an IP packet. -It depackets (generates and decomposes IP packets), and is connected to the IP network to send and receive IP packets to and from the IP network.

【0045】

Further, the DTMF detection unit 14 detects a DTMF (Dial Tone Multi Frequency) signal from the audio signals that are subjected to input / output interface processing by the interface unit 11. With such a configuration, the voice signal input to the interface unit 11 is compressed by the voice CODEC unit 12 and packetized by the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to be converted into an IP packet and converted into an IP network. Will be sent to. Further, the IP packet received from the IP network is converted into an audio signal by being depacketized by the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, decompressed by the audio CODEC unit 12, and output from the interface unit 11. It will be.

【0046】

The operation of each part related to these VoIP gateway functions differs slightly depending on what kind of device this VoIP gateway device 1A is. For example, when the VoIP gateway device 1A is a VoIP gateway device, the interface unit 11 is connected to a user terminal such as a PSTN, ISDN, or a telephone to perform input / output interface processing for analog voice signals and digital voice signals. become.

【0047】

On the other hand, when this VoIP gateway device 1A is a VoIP trunk, the interface unit 11 is connected to a switch such as a PBX and the voice signal of the switch (analog voice signal, digital voice signal, or D channel exchanged between the switches). Input / output interface processing (such as signals of the common line signal system) will be performed, and the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 will IP packetize / VoIP for the voice signal of the exchange that has undergone input / output interface processing in the interface unit 11. Will be done.

【0048】

In addition to the above-mentioned processing, the processing related to the normal VoIP gateway function includes voice addition and level adjustment processing for the voice signal, and encoding when the voice signal on the user terminal side is an analog voice signal. -Decryption processing and the like will be performed, but in FIG. 5, the block to which such processing is performed is not shown.

【0049】

The VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. 5 has a communication status monitoring control unit 30 and a communication status notification unit as parts that function as the communication status notification device according to the present invention, in addition to the respective parts that perform the above-mentioned VoIP gateway function. It has 40 requirements analysis unit 50. Here, the communication status monitoring control unit 30 monitors and controls the communication status in the IP network 9 based on the processing status of voice data in the VoIP gateway device 1A, and the communication status notification unit 40 is the communication status monitoring control unit 30. The communication status monitored and controlled in the above is notified to the user terminal 2A through the VoIP gateway device 1A.

【0050】

In addition, the request analysis unit 50 determines whether the voice data received by the VoIP gateway device 1A from the connected user terminal 2A includes a request for monitoring / control or notification of the communication status in the IP network 9. , When a request is included, the content of the request is analyzed, and the communication status monitoring control unit 30 and the communication status notification unit 40 respond to the content of the request analyzed by the request analysis unit 50. It monitors, controls, and notifies, respectively.

【0051】

Further, the communication status monitoring control unit 30 includes a traffic status monitoring unit 31, a communication quality determination unit 32, a band change request unit 33, a concealment processing unit 34, a communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit 35, a concealment processing selection control unit 36, and a communication status. It has a memory unit 37. Here, the traffic status monitoring unit 31 monitors the traffic status in the IP network 9 by controlling the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, and as shown in FIG. 6, the router information request unit 311 and the router It has an information acquisition unit 312, a router information analysis unit 313, a test packet transmission control unit 314, a test packet reception control unit 315, a test packet recovery analysis unit 316, and a test packet return control unit 317.

【0052】

By controlling the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, the router information requesting unit 311 sends a signal requesting the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to notify the router existing on the IP network 9 of information on the traffic status. The information request IP packet including the information request IP packet is generated, and the information request IP packet is sent to the IP network 9 to the router existing on the IP network 9.

【0053】

By controlling the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, the router information acquisition unit 312 responds to the information request IP packet from the IP packets received from the IP network 9 and depacked by the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13. Then, information on the traffic status notified from the router existing on the IP network 9 is acquired.

【0054】

The router information analysis unit 313 analyzes the traffic state in the IP network 9 based on the notification information from the router acquired by the router information acquisition unit 312. That is, the router information request unit 311, the router information acquisition unit 312, and the router information analysis that constitute the traffic status monitoring unit 31 (this traffic status monitoring unit 31 is a component of the traffic status monitoring control unit as described later). Each of the 313 units is transmitted by the traffic information request unit and the traffic information request unit, which causes the VoIP gateway device 1A to send a signal requesting the routers existing on the IP network 9 to notify the information about the traffic status. Based on the traffic information acquisition unit that acquires information about the traffic status notified from the router in response to the signal from the data received by the VoIP gateway device 1A, and the notification information from the router received by the traffic information acquisition unit. It will have a function as a traffic state analysis unit that analyzes the traffic state of the IP network 9.

【0055】

Further, the test packet transmission control unit 314 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to request the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to return the VoIP gateway device 1A as soon as it is received. A test IP packet containing the above is generated, and this test IP packet is sent to the IP network as a destination of another VoIP gateway device 1 connected to the IP network 9.

【0056】

The test packet reception control unit 315 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to transmit the IP packets received from the IP network 9 by the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 from the VoIP gateway device 1A. It identifies the test IP packet that has been sent back from another VoIP gateway device 1A connected to the IP network 9, and monitors the collection status of the test IP packet in the IP packet generation and decomposition unit 13. ..

【0057】

The test packet collection analysis unit 316 analyzes the traffic state in the IP network 9 based on the collection status of the test IP packet monitored by the test packet reception monitoring unit 315. That is, the above test packet transmission control unit 314, test packet reception control unit 315, and test that constitute the traffic state monitoring unit 31 (this traffic state monitoring unit 31 is a component of the traffic state monitoring control unit as described later). A test packet transmission control unit and other VoIP gateway devices, respectively, in which the packet recovery analysis unit 316 transmits a test IP packet from this VoIP gateway device 1A to another VoIP gateway device 1A connected to the IP network 9. The test packet reception monitoring unit that identifies the test IP packet returned from 1A from the IP packets received by this VoIP gateway device 1A and monitors the collection status of the test IP packet, and the test packet reception monitoring unit It will have a function as a traffic state analysis unit that analyzes the traffic state of the IP network 9 based on the collected status of the monitored test IP packets.

【0058】

Further, the test packet return control unit 317 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to connect the other IP packets received from the IP network 9 by the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to the IP network 9. It identifies the test IP packet sent from the VoIP gateway device 1A, and returns this test IP packet to the other VoIP gateway device 1A that is the source according to the signal contained in the test IP packet. ..

【0059】

That is, by having the above configuration, the traffic condition monitoring unit 31 has a traffic condition monitoring function in the IP network 9. Further, the communication quality determination unit 32 shown in FIG. 5 (the communication quality determination unit 32 is a component of the traffic status monitoring control unit as described later) is the monitoring result of the traffic status monitored by the traffic status monitoring unit 31. Based on the above, the communication quality of voice data in the IP network 9 is judged.

【0060】

The band change request unit 33 (this communication quality determination unit 32 is a component of the traffic status monitoring control unit as described later) is IP from the VoIP gateway device 1A based on the communication quality determination result in the communication quality determination unit 32. It has a function of transmitting a signal requesting a router existing on the network 9 to change the band used for voice data.

【0061】

Specifically, the band change request unit 33 controls the IP packet generation decomposition unit 13 based on the determination result by the communication quality determination unit 32 regarding the communication quality of the voice data in the IP network 9, thereby generating the IP packet. The decomposition unit 13 is made to generate a band request IP packet containing a signal requesting the router existing on the IP network 9 to change the band used for voice data, and the router existing on the IP network 9 is set as the destination. , This band request IP packet is sent to the IP network 9.

【0062】

The concealment processing unit 34 (this concealment processing unit 34 is a component of the concealment processing monitoring control unit as described later) is transmitted and received through the IP packet generation / decomposition processing in the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 of the VoIP gateway device 1A. Communication concealment processing is performed on the voice data, and further, the concealment processing unit 34 can select any one of scramble processing, encryption processing, and interleaving processing as the communication concealment processing for the voice data. It has become like.

【0063】

The communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit 35 (this communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit 35 is a component of the concealment processing monitoring control unit as described later) is connected to the IP network 9 by controlling the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13. It monitors the status of communication concealment processing performed by another connected VoIP gateway device 1A. As shown in Fig. 7, the concealment processing information request unit 351 and the concealment processing information acquisition unit 352 and the concealment processing information analysis unit are used. It has 353 and a confidential processing information return unit 354.

【0064】

The concealment processing information request unit 351 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to conceal the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 including data that has been subjected to any of scramble processing, encryption processing, and interleaving processing concealment. The processing data IP packet and the concealment processing request IP packet including the signal requesting the other VoIP gateway device 1A to decrypt and return the concealed data described above are generated, and these concealment processing data are generated. The IP packet and the confidential processing request IP packet are sent to the IP network 9 to the other VoIP gateway device 1A connected to the IP network 9 as a destination.

【0065】

By controlling the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, the concealment processing information acquisition unit 352 controls the concealment processing data IP packet from the IP packets received from the IP network 9 by the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 and depacked. And, in response to the concealment processing request IP packet, the decryption result of the concealment processing data returned from the other VoIP gateway device 1A connected to the IP network 9 is acquired.

【0066】

The concealment processing information analysis unit 353 analyzes the state of concealment processing performed by the other VoIP gateway device 1A based on the decoding result of the concealment processing data by the other VoIP gateway device 1A acquired by the concealment processing information acquisition unit 352. Is. By controlling the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, the confidential processing information return unit 354 controls another VoIP gateway connected to the IP network 9 from the IP packets received by the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 from the IP network 9. The concealment processing data IP packet and the concealment processing request IP packet transmitted from the device 1A are identified, and the concealment processing data contained in the concealment processing data IP packet is decoded according to the signal contained in the concealment processing request IP packet. Further, an IP packet containing the decryption result of the concealment processing data is generated by the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to the other VoIP gateway device 1A that is the source of the concealment processing data IP packet and the concealment processing request IP packet. Will be returned.

【0067】

That is, by having the above configuration, the communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit 35 is based on the transmission / reception status of the IP packet between the VoIP gateway device 1A and the other VoIP gateway device 1A connected to the IP network 9. It will have a function to monitor the status of confidential processing in other VoIP gateway device 1A.

【0068】

The concealment processing selection control unit 36 (this concealment processing selection control unit 36 is a component of the concealment processing monitoring control unit as described later) is in the concealment processing state of another VoIP gateway device 1A by the communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit 35. The type of communication concealment processing performed by the concealment processing unit 34 is selected according to the monitoring result of the above, and the concealment processing is controlled by the concealment processing unit 34.

【0069】

Further, the communication status storage unit 37 is used to monitor the traffic status of the IP network 9 by the traffic status monitoring unit 31, the communication quality determination result of the voice data by the communication quality determination unit 32, and the concealment processing by the concealment processing selection control unit 35. The selection result and the control result of the concealment process are stored respectively. That is, the traffic status monitoring unit 31, the communication quality determination unit 32, the band change request unit 33, and the communication status storage unit 37 are based on the transmission / reception status of IP packets in the VoIP gateway device as one aspect of communication status monitoring / control. It will have a function as a traffic condition monitoring control unit that monitors and controls the traffic status of the IP network 9.

【0070】

Further, the concealment processing unit 34, the communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit 35, the concealment processing selection control unit 36, and the communication state storage unit 37 monitor and control the concealment processing for voice data as one aspect of monitoring and controlling the communication status. It will have a function as a secret processing status monitoring control unit. Therefore, with the above configuration, the communication status monitoring and control unit 30 has a function of monitoring and controlling the communication status in the IP network 9 based on the processing status of voice data in the VoIP gateway device 1A.

【0071】

Further, the communication status notification unit 40 includes a notification information storage unit 41 and a communication status notification control unit 42. Here, the notification information storage unit 41 determines the communication quality of the voice data by the communication quality determination unit 32 and the traffic status monitoring result of the IP network 9 stored in the communication status storage unit 37 by the traffic status monitoring unit 31. As a result, at least one of the voice, characters, and images representing the information regarding the selection result of the concealment process and the control result of the concealment process by the concealment process selection control unit 35 is used as the notification information used by the communication status notification control unit 42. It is to store.

【0072】

Further, the communication status notification control unit 42 determines the communication quality of the information regarding the traffic status monitoring result of the IP network 9 by the traffic status monitoring unit 31 and the voice data by the communication quality determination unit 32 stored in the communication status storage unit 37. Information on the determination result and information on the selection result and control result of the concealment processing by the concealment processing selection control unit 36 are used via the interface unit 11 by using the notification information stored in the notification information storage unit 41. This is to notify the person terminal 2A.

【0073】

Further, the communication status notification control unit 42 is also configured so that the above-mentioned information stored in the communication status storage unit 37 can be notified to the user terminal 2A in the form of a voice signal by directly controlling the interface unit 11. ing. Further, the communication status notification control unit 42 recognizes the type of the user terminal 2A connected to the interface unit 11 by monitoring the audio signal to be input / output processed by the interface unit 11.

【0074】

That is, by having the above configuration, the communication status notification unit 40 has a function of notifying the user terminal 2A of the communication status monitored and controlled by the communication status monitoring control unit 30 through the VoIP gateway device 1A. Become. Further, by providing the above configuration, the communication status notification unit 40 is provided with the notification information storage unit 41 that stores at least one of voice, character, and image information, and is stored in the notification information storage unit 41. It will have a function to notify the communication status by using the information.

【0075】

Further, by providing the above configuration, the communication status notification unit 40 has a function of notifying the user terminal 2 of the communication quality determination result in the communication quality determination unit 32. In addition, by providing the above configuration, the communication status notification unit 40 displays the control result of the communication concealment processing status by the concealment processing selection control unit 36, that is, the status of the concealment processing in the concealment processing unit 34. Will have the function of notifying.

【0076】

Further, the requirements analysis unit 50 includes a requirements information analysis unit 51 and a request reception control unit 52. Here, the request information analysis unit 51 includes whether the DTMF signal detected by the DTMF detection unit 14 includes the DTMF signal corresponding to the request related to the monitoring / control or notification of the communication status from the user terminal 2A. If a DTMF signal corresponding to any request is included, the content of the request is analyzed.

【0077】

Further, the request reception control unit 52 monitors the traffic status of the IP network 9 by the traffic status monitoring unit 31 and the communication quality of the voice data by the communication quality determination unit 32 based on the content of the request analyzed by the request information analysis unit 51. , The concealment process selection control unit 36 controls the selection and control of the concealment process, and the communication status notification control unit 42 controls the notification of each information.

【0078】

That is, by providing the above configuration, the request analysis unit 50 includes a request for monitoring / control or notification of the communication status in the IP network 9 in the voice data received by the VoIP gateway device 1A from the user terminal 2A. It has a function to determine whether or not there is a request, analyze the content of the request if it is included, and control the communication status monitoring control unit 30 and the communication status notification unit 40 based on the analysis result. Become.

【0079】

Further, by providing the above configuration, when the content of the request analyzed by the request analysis unit 50 is related to the start or stop of the monitoring / control of the communication state, the communication state monitoring control unit 30 requests the request. It will have a function to start or stop the monitoring / control of the communication status according to the content. Further, when the content of the request analyzed by the request analysis unit 50 is related to the start or stop of the communication status notification, the communication status notification unit 40 starts the communication status notification according to the content of the request. Or it will have a function to stop.

【0080】

In addition, when the content of the request analyzed by the request analysis unit 50 is related to the selection of the communication state, the communication status notification unit 40 notifies the selected communication status according to the content of the request. Will have. In order for the VoIP gateway device to have the functions of the communication status monitoring control unit 30, the communication status notification unit 40, and the request analysis unit 50, normally, the communication status for functioning as the communication status monitoring control unit 30. Monitoring and controlling means (this communication status monitoring and controlling means has a function of monitoring and controlling the communication status in the IP network based on the processing status of voice data in the VoIP gateway device), for functioning as the communication status notification unit 40. Communication status notification means (this communication status notification means has a function of notifying the user terminal connected to the VoIP gateway device through the VoIP gateway device of the communication status monitored and controlled by the communication status monitoring control means), request. Request analysis means for functioning as the analysis unit 50 (This request analysis means determines whether the voice data received from the user terminal by the VoIP gateway device includes a request for monitoring / controlling the communication status or notification. However, if the request is included, it has the function of analyzing the content of the request and controlling the communication status monitoring control means and the communication status notification means according to the content of the request) to make the computer function. The above communication status notification program and data are installed on each VoIP gateway device from the medium on which the communication status notification program and data are recorded.

【0081】

This installation can be done by setting a storage medium including a floppy disk, MO disk, CD-ROM disk, hard disk, or other storage device in the computer, or by using a communication status notification program distributed through the IP network. Good. FIG. 8 shows a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to the first embodiment of the present invention from another aspect.

【0082】

Like the VoIP gateway device shown in FIG. 5, this VoIP gateway device also corresponds to, for example, the VoIP gateway device 1A in FIG. 1, and it is said that voice data is transmitted and received by performing mutual conversion between a voice signal and an IP packet. It has a VoIP gateway function and a communication status notification function according to the present invention.

【0083】

Further, the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. 8 has an interface unit 11, a voice CODEC unit 12, an IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, and a DTMF detector 14 as parts that perform a normal VoIP gateway function. Each of these parts has the same function as the part indicated by the same code in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. 5, the interface unit 11, the voice codec unit 12, the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, and the DTMF detection unit 14. Is.

【0084】

Further, the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. 8 has a router information notification request data storage unit / router information analysis unit 31-1 and network status grasp / test data storage as parts that function as the communication status notification device according to the present invention. Unit 31-2, Network status determination unit 32-1, Band change request unit 33-1, Concealment processing function unit 34-1, Concealment processing control function unit 34-2, Concealment processing confirmation unit 35-1, Concealment of the other party Processing selection / control function unit 36-1, network state storage unit 37-1, service notification message data (voice, character, image) storage unit 41-1, command / setting information analysis unit 51-1 by DTMF signal, service It has a control unit 60.

【0085】

Here, the router information notification request data storage unit / router information analysis unit 31-1 has each function of the router information request unit 311, the router information acquisition unit 312, and the router information analysis unit 313 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. It has a function that integrates the above. In addition, the network status grasp / test data storage unit 31-2 is the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. 5, in which the test packet transmission control unit 314, the test packet reception control unit 315, the test packet recovery analysis unit 316, and the test packet return control are performed. It has a function that integrates each function of the unit 317.

【0086】

Therefore, the router information notification request data storage unit / router information analysis unit 31-1 and the network status grasp / test data storage unit 31-2 have the functions of the traffic status monitoring unit 31 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. It will have the same function. Further, the network status determination unit 32-1 has the same function as that of the communication quality determination unit 32 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG.

【0087】

The band change request unit 33-1 has the same functions as the band change request unit 33 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. The concealment processing function unit 34-1 and the concealment processing control function unit 34-2 have the same functions as those of the concealment processing unit 34 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG.

【0088】

The concealment processing confirmation unit 35-1 of the other party has the same function as that of the communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit 35 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. The concealment process selection / control function unit 36-1 has the same function as the function of the concealment process selection control unit 36 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG.

【0089】

The network state storage unit 37-1 has the same function as that of the communication state storage unit 37 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. The service notification message data (voice, character, image) storage unit 41-1 has the same function as the notification information storage unit 41 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG.

【0090】

The command / setting information analysis unit 51-1 using DTMF signals has the same functions as those of the request information analysis unit 51 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. The service control unit 60 has the same functions as the functions of the communication status notification control unit 42 and the request reception control unit 52 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG.

【0091】

Therefore, router information notification request data storage unit / router information analysis unit 31-1, network status grasp / test data storage unit 31-2, network status determination unit 32-1, band change request unit 33-1, concealment processing function. Unit 34-1, Concealment processing control function unit 34-2, Concealment processing confirmation unit 35-1, Concealment processing selection / control function unit 36-1, Network state storage unit 37-1 of the other party are VoIP shown in Fig. 5. In the gateway device 1A, the function similar to that performed by the communication status monitoring control unit 30 will be fulfilled.

【0092】

Further, the service notification message data (voice, character, image) storage unit 41-1 and the service control unit 60 perform the same functions as the communication status notification unit 40 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. become. Further, the instruction by the DTMF signal, the setting information analysis unit 51-1 and the service control unit 60 perform the same functions as the requirements analysis unit 50 in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG.

【0093】

(ii) Description of the configuration of the user terminal used in the first embodiment of the present invention. Next, the user terminal used in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This user terminal corresponds to, for example, the user terminal 2A in FIG. 1, is connected to the VoIP gateway device 1A via PSTN, ISDN, an exchange, etc., and is connected to another user terminal 2 via the IP network 9. It communicates voice data such as call data and facsimile data with and from.

【0094】

The user terminal shown in FIG. 9 has a voice communication circuit 21, a voice data input unit 22, a voice data output unit 23, a DTMF operation circuit 24, and an incoming call notification means 25 as parts that perform a normal voice communication function. .. Here, the voice communication circuit 21 transmits and receives a voice signal to and from the VoIP gateway device 1A.

【0095】

The voice data input unit 22 performs input processing such as call voice and facsimile image, and converts the input data such as call voice and facsimile image into a voice signal and transmits it to the voice communication circuit 21. The voice data output unit 23 receives a voice signal from the voice communication circuit 21, converts data such as a call voice and a facsimile image included in the voice signal into a call voice and a facsimile image, and performs output processing.

【0096】

Further, when the voice communication circuit 21 receives a voice signal including voice notification information, the voice data output unit 23 receives the notification information as voice from the voice communication circuit 21 and outputs the notification information. It performs processing. The DTMF operation circuit 24 performs input processing of a control signal by a dial operation or the like, and controls transmission / reception of a voice signal in the voice communication circuit 21 based on the input control signal.

【0097】

Further, the DTMF operation circuit 24 transmits a DTMF signal based on the dial operation to the VoIP gateway device 1A in the form of a voice signal by utilizing the voice signal transmission / reception function in the voice communication circuit 21. Further, the incoming call notification means 25 notifies the user that an incoming call has been received by voice or text when the voice communication circuit 21 receives the voice signal from the VoIP gateway device 1A, that is, when the voice signal is received. , The notification is made by means such as an image.

【0098】

Further, the incoming call notification means 25 controls the voice communication circuit 21 and receives the voice signal when the voice communication circuit 21 receives a voice signal including notification information such as characters and images from the VoIP gateway device 1A as data. The notification information is detected from the above, and the notification is notified by means such as voice, characters, and images associated with the notification information.

【0099】

If the user terminal 2A is a telephone, only the input / output processing of the call voice is performed by the voice data input unit 22 and the voice data output unit 23, and if the user terminal 2A is a facsimile device. In the above, only the input / output processing of the facsimile image data is performed in the audio data input unit 22 and the audio data output unit 23.

【0100】

Of course, in the user terminal 2A, the voice data input unit 22 and the voice data output unit 23 may both have a call voice input / output processing function and a facsimile device input / output processing function. (iii) Description of the configuration of the router used in the first embodiment of the present invention. Subsequently, the router used in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

【0101】

As described above, this router 90 exists on the IP network 9 in FIG. 1 and constitutes the IP network 9, and the user terminals 2 connected via the VoIP gateway device 1 transmit and receive voice data to and from each other. It transmits the IP packet including it and controls the route accompanying the transmission of the IP packet.

【0102】

The router 90 shown in FIG. 10 has an IP packet transfer unit 91, a traffic information monitoring control unit 92, and an IP packet route selection control unit 93 as parts that perform a normal router function. Here, the IP packet transfer unit 91 transmits / receives an IP packet to / from another connected router 90 or a VoIP gateway device.

【0103】

The traffic information monitoring control unit 92 sets the traffic information of the IP packet transmitted / received by the IP packet transfer unit 91, that is, the transmission / reception status of the IP packet, the congestion status of the IP packet, the loss / retransmission status of the IP packet, and the maximum throughput of the IP packet. It monitors information such as the ratio of the current throughput to the current throughput and the amount of IP packets accumulated in the buffer.

【0104】

In addition, the traffic information monitoring control unit 92 generates an IP packet containing the traffic information monitored by the router 90, and controls the IP packet forwarding unit 91 to the other routers on the IP network 9. When the IP packet including the traffic information monitored by another router on the IP network 9 is transmitted, when the IP packet forwarding unit 91 receives the IP packet from the other router, the traffic information in the other router 90 is transmitted. It is acquired from the IP packet and stored.

【0105】

Further, when the traffic information monitoring control unit 92 receives an information request IP packet including a signal requesting the IP packet transfer unit 91 to notify the information about the traffic status from the VoIP gateway device connected to the IP network. , The IP packet containing the traffic information monitored by the router 90 is generated, and the IP packet transfer unit 91 is controlled to transmit the IP packet to the VoIP gateway device of the source.

【0106】

In addition, the traffic information monitoring control unit 92 receives a band request IP packet including a signal requesting that the IP packet transfer unit 91 change the band used for voice data from the VoIP gateway device connected to the IP network. In this case, by controlling the IP packet transfer unit 91, the band used by the IP packet transfer unit 91 for voice data is changed in response to the request.

【0107】

The IP packet route selection control unit 93 is based on the destination information included in the header of the IP packet received by the IP packet transfer unit 91, and the traffic information and traffic of the IP packet in the router 90 monitored by the traffic information monitoring control unit 92. By referring to the traffic information of the IP packet in the other router 90 stored by the information monitoring control unit 92, the transmission route of the IP packet is determined, and the IP packet transfer unit 91 is controlled, the IP is determined according to the determined transmission route. It sends a packet.

【0108】

Further, the traffic information monitoring control unit 92 also monitors the information related to the control of the transmission route of the IP packet in the IP packet route selection control unit 93 as the traffic information. (1-2) Description of Traffic State Notification Operation in the First Embodiment of the Present Invention Next, regarding the operation in the VoIP communication system of the first embodiment of the present invention, first, focusing on the monitoring control operation and the notification operation of the traffic state of the IP network by the communication status notification device, FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 are shown. It will be explained with reference to it.

【0109】

The traffic status referred to below is not limited to the traffic volume of the IP packet itself, but also various communication conditions that may affect the voice quality, such as the congestion status of the IP packet and the delay time of the IP packet. , Should be broadly referred to. By the way, in the VoIP communication system of the first embodiment of the present invention, the following four operations are performed as operations related to the monitoring control and notification of the traffic state by the communication state notification device.

【0110】

(i) Operation in which the VoIP gateway device monitors the traffic status of IP network 9 (traffic status monitoring operation) (ii) Operation in which the VoIP gateway device notifies the user terminal of information on traffic status and call quality (communication status notification operation) (iii) The VoIP gateway device analyzes the traffic status and call quality monitoring / control and notification request sent from the user terminal, and controls the traffic status and call quality monitoring / control and notification according to the content. Operation (communication status request response operation) (iv) Operation that the VoIP gateway device requests the router to change the bandwidth allocated to voice data (bandwidth expansion request operation) Each of these operations will be described step by step below.

【0111】

(i) Description of traffic condition monitoring operation First, the operation of the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention to monitor the traffic status of the IP network will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 11, two VoIP gateway devices 1A and 1A'equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention, each of which has the configuration shown in FIG. 5, are connected to the IP network 9 including the router 90, and further VoIP. One general user terminal 2A, 2A'is connected to each of the gateway devices 1A, 1A'.

【0112】

In the following, the explanation will be given with particular attention to the operation of the VoIP gateway device 1A and the user terminal 2A. The operation of the VoIP gateway device 1A equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention to monitor the traffic status of the IP network is performed by the following two methods.

【0113】

A method that uses information collected from routers on IP networks A method that utilizes the reply status of test IP packets by other VoIP gateway devices These two methods will be described step by step below. A method that uses information collected from routers on IP networks In this method, the VoIP gateway device 1A equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention requests information on the traffic status from the router 90 existing on the IP network 9, and is based on the information obtained from the router 90. This is a method for grasping the traffic status.

【0114】

First, the VoIP gateway device 1A provided with the communication status notification device of the present invention sends a signal requesting the router 90 existing on the IP network to notify the information regarding the traffic status (step A1). .. Specifically, the traffic state monitoring unit 31 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to generate an information request IP packet including a signal requesting the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to notify information about the traffic status. Then, this information request IP packet is sent to the IP network 9 with the router 90 on the IP network as the destination.

【0115】

The information requested here includes the transmission / reception status of IP packets, the congestion status of IP packets, the loss / retransmission status of IP packets, the ratio of the current throughput to the maximum throughput of IP packets, and the amount of IP packets accumulated in the buffer. , Various information monitored by the traffic information monitoring control unit 92 during normal operation of the router 90 on the IP network 9 can be used.

【0116】

Next, when the router 90 existing on the IP network 9 receives the information request IP packet sent from the VoIP gateway device 1A, the router 90 responds to the request included in the information request IP packet to the VoIP gateway device 1A. And send out information about the traffic status (step A2). Specifically, in the router 90 existing on the IP network 9, when the IP packet transfer unit 91 receives the information request IP packet from the VoIP gateway device 1A, the traffic information monitoring control unit 92 is monitored by the router 90. By generating an IP packet containing traffic information and controlling the IP packet transfer unit 91, this IP packet is transmitted to the source VoIP gateway device 1A.

【0117】

Finally, the VoIP gateway device 1A acquires the information regarding the traffic status notified from the router 90, and grasps the traffic status in the IP network 9 based on this information. Specifically, in the traffic status monitoring unit 31, the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 acquires and acquires information on the traffic status notified from the router 9 from the IP packet received from the router 90 on the IP network 9. It analyzes the traffic status of IP network 90 based on the information about the traffic status.

【0118】

According to the method described above, the VoIP gateway device 1A receives various information notified from the router 90 existing on the IP network 9, that is, the transmission / reception status of the IP packet, the congestion status of the IP packet, and the IP packet. By analyzing the loss / retransmission status, the ratio of the current throughput to the maximum throughput of IP packets, the amount of IP packets accumulated in the buffer, etc., a simple configuration can be achieved while taking advantage of the IP packet transmission / reception function of conventional VoIP gateway devices. You can grasp the traffic status of IP network 9 with.

【0119】

A method that utilizes the reply status of test IP packets by other VoIP gateway devices In this method, the VoIP gateway device 1A equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention sends a test IP packet to another VoIP gateway device 1A'connected to the IP network 9, and the other VoIP gateway device This is a method of monitoring the traffic status based on the recovery status of the test IP packet returned from 1A'.

【0120】

First, the VoIP gateway device 1A provided with the communication status notification device of the present invention sends a test IP packet to another VoIP gateway device 1A'connected to the IP network (step B1). Specifically, the traffic status monitoring unit 31 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, and the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 generates a test IP packet, and another VoIP gateway device connected to the IP network 9. This test IP packet is sent to IP network 9 with 1A'as the destination.

【0121】

As described above, in this test IP packet, when the destination VoIP gateway device 1A'receives this test IP packet, this IP packet is sent to the destination VoIP gateway device (that is, this VoIP gateway device 1A). ) Contains a signal requesting it to be returned. Next, another VoIP gateway device 1A'connected to the IP network 9 returns the test IP packet received from the VoIP gateway device 1A to the VoIP gateway device 1A (step B2).

【0122】

Specifically, in another VoIP gateway device 1A'connected to the IP network 9, the test packet return control unit 317 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, so that the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 is the IP network. Among the IP packets received from 9, the test IP packet transmitted from another VoIP gateway device connected to the IP network (in the example shown in FIG. 11, the test IP packet transmitted from the VoIP gateway device 1A). ) Is identified, and this test IP packet is returned to the source VoIP gateway device (that is, the VoIP gateway device 1A) according to the signal contained in the test IP packet.

【0123】

Subsequently, the VoIP gateway device 1A receives the test IP packet returned from the other VoIP gateway device 1A'connected to the IP network 9, and analyzes the traffic state in the IP network 9 based on the recovery status. .. Specifically, in the VoIP gateway device 1A, the traffic status monitoring unit 31 is a test IP packet sent by the VoIP gateway device 1A from the IP packets received by the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, which is an IP. Monitor the recovery status of test IP packets returned from other VoIP gateway devices (VoIP gateway device 1A'in the current example) connected to network 9. Further, the traffic condition monitoring unit 31 analyzes the traffic condition of the IP network 9 based on the collected status of the monitored test IP packets.

【0124】

According to the method described above, the VoIP gateway device 1A is a conventional VoIP gateway device by analyzing the collection status of test IP packets returned from other VoIP gateway devices connected to the IP network 9. It is possible to grasp the traffic status of IP network 9 with a simple configuration while making the best use of the IP packet transmission / reception function.

【0125】

As an example, it takes from the time when this VoIP gateway device 1A sends a test IP packet to another VoIP gateway device 1A'to the time when it receives the test IP packet returned from another VoIP gateway device 1A'. By analyzing the time, it is possible to monitor the delay time when the IP packet makes a round trip between the VoIP gateway device 1A and the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the other party.

【0126】

In addition, this VoIP gateway device 1A sends several consecutive test IP packets to the other VoIP gateway device 1A', and the sequence number of the test IP packet returned from the other VoIP gateway device 1A'is used. By analyzing, the ratio of lost test IP packets among the transmitted test IP packets can be known, and the loss status of IP packets can be monitored.

【0127】

By using the above and methods, the VoIP gateway device 1A provided with the communication status notification device according to the present invention has the status of congestion and loss of IP packets monitored by the router on the IP network 9, and the status of congestion and loss of IP packets. It is possible to monitor the delay time of IP packets and the loss status of IP packets with other VoIP gateway devices 1A'connected to IP network 9.

【0128】

Further, the VoIP gateway device 1A determines the communication quality related to the voice communication via the IP network 9 based on the traffic state of the IP network 9 monitored by using the above and the methods. Specifically, using the traffic status of the IP network 9 monitored by the traffic status monitoring unit 31, particularly the congestion status of voice data in the IP network 9, the communication quality determination unit 32 uses the voice data via the IP network 9. Judge the communication quality of data.

【0129】

Finally, the communication status storage unit 37 uses the traffic status monitoring result of the IP network 9 by the traffic status monitoring unit 31 and the communication quality determination result of the voice communication by the communication quality determination unit 32 as information on the communication status at any time. Remember. (ii) Explanation of communication status notification operation Subsequently, the operation of the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention to notify the user terminal of information on the traffic status and communication quality will be described with reference to FIG.

【0130】

Also in FIG. 12, two VoIP gateway devices 1A and 1A'equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention, each of which has the configuration shown in FIG. 5, are connected to the IP network 9 including the router 90. In addition, a general user terminal 2A is connected to the VoIP gateway device 1A. The VoIP gateway device 1A sets the result of monitoring the traffic status of the IP network 9 by the traffic status monitoring operation and the result of determining the communication quality of voice communication as the communication status monitored and controlled by the communication status monitoring control unit 30. Notify the user terminal 2A connected to the device 1A (step C1).

【0131】

Specifically, the communication status notification control unit 42 controls the interface unit 11 to monitor the traffic status of the IP network 9 stored in the communication status storage unit 37 and determine the communication quality of voice communication. Is notified to the user terminal 2A by using the notification information stored in the notification information storage unit 41.

【0132】

Here, the communication status notification control unit 42 stores in the notification information storage unit 41 according to the type of the notification destination user terminal 2A recognized by controlling the interface unit 11 and the type of communication status information to be notified. Information to be used for notification is selected from the notification information of voice, text, and image, and the notification is performed using the notification information.

【0133】

Specifically, the selection of the notification information is divided into a case of notifying by voice and a case of notifying by characters and images depending on the type of the user terminal 2A. Voice notification When the user terminal 2A of the notification destination is a user terminal used for conventional voice communication, particularly when the user terminal is connected to the PSTN network, the communication status notification control unit 42 provides notification information. From the notification information stored in the storage unit 41, the communication status is notified using voice information.

【0134】

Here, the communication status notification control unit 42 has a method of transmitting a voice message whose level is adjusted by superimposing the user's call, and a method of temporarily interrupting the user's conversation while maintaining the connection and transmitting a voice message. Is used properly according to the type of communication status to be notified. For example, when the user terminal 2A of the notification destination is a telephone and the notification of the information regarding the judgment result of the communication quality is performed during a voice call, the warning sound "pip, pip, pip" is emitted to prevent the call. The volume is suppressed to the extent that it does not become, and it is played over the call voice.

【0135】

Notification by text and image When the notification destination user terminal 2A receives a voice signal including notification information such as characters and images from the VoIP gateway device 1A in the incoming call notification means 25, the voice communication circuit 21 is controlled and received. In the case of a terminal that can detect notification information from a voice signal and give notification using characters and images associated with the notification information, especially a terminal that can receive digital signals by being connected to ISDN, or an IP. In the case of a terminal having a function of generating / decomposing packets, the communication status notification control unit 42 uses character information and image information from the notification information stored in the notification information storage unit 41. Notify the communication status.

【0136】

Specifically, the incoming call notification means 25 possessed by the user terminal 2A uses appropriate notification information according to the user terminal 2A so that the information on the communication status is displayed in the form of a message in characters or images. Send to person terminal 2A. On the other hand, the communication status notification control unit 42 selects an appropriate notification method according to the type of communication status information to be notified. Here, the case of notifying the information on the traffic status of the IP network and the case of notifying the information on the communication quality of the IP network will be described.

【0137】

When notifying information about the traffic status of the IP network When notifying information about the current traffic status of the IP network 9, the communication status notification control unit 42 expresses the current traffic status of the IP network 9 with an index that is intuitively easy for the user of the user terminal 2A to understand. Notify using the notification information including.

【0138】

For example, when notifying the traffic volume of the router 90 on the IP network 9, the communication status notification control unit 42 determines the percentage of the current IP bucket throughput when the maximum throughput of the IP bucket on the router 9 is 100%. In the form of a message such as "Currently, the network traffic is about 20% and the call quality is good." Or "Currently, the network is very busy and sufficient call quality cannot be ensured." The expressed notification information will be used. In this case, as the expression format of this message, an appropriate one is selected from voice, characters, and images according to the type of the user terminal 2A.

【0139】

In this way, by notifying the user terminal of the traffic status monitoring result in the IP network 9, the user can easily grasp the traffic status in the IP network 9 using the user terminal. When notifying information about the communication quality of the IP network Even when notifying information on the communication quality of the current IP network 9, the communication status notification control unit 42 displays the current traffic status of the IP network 9 with an index that is intuitively easy for the user of the user terminal 2A to understand. Notify using the notification information including the message.

【0140】

For example, when the communication quality determination unit 32 determines that the call quality on the IP network is not good, when the communication status notification control unit 42 notifies the information regarding the determination result, the communication status notification control unit 42 determines the call quality. The notification information expressed as a message such as "The network is very busy right now and sufficient call quality cannot be ensured." Will be used. In this case as well, as the expression format of this message, an appropriate one is selected from voice, characters, and images according to the type of the user terminal 2A.

【0141】

In addition, when the user terminal 2A is a telephone capable of handling only voice information and it is determined that the call quality suddenly deteriorates during a call, when the information regarding the determination result is notified, " Using the notification information of the beeping sound, the user terminal 2A is notified of this at a volume that does not interfere with the call. In this way, based on the traffic status monitoring result in the IP network 9, the communication quality of the voice data via the IP network 9 is judged, and the judgment result is notified to the user terminal so that the user can use the user terminal. It is possible to easily grasp the communication quality of voice data by using.

【0142】

As described above, the communication status notification control unit 42 uses the voice stored in the notification information storage unit 41 according to the type of the user terminal 2A to be notified and the type of communication status information to be notified. , Text, and image notification information is selected from the appropriate notification information, and the notification information is used for notification. The communication status notification control unit 42 has a method of superimposing the voice notification information illustrated in the above on the call voice, and temporarily, especially when the user terminal 2A is a telephone capable of handling only voice information. Select a method of interrupting the voice communication of the user terminal 2A and sending the voice notification information according to the type of communication status information. With this configuration, when the communication status is notified by voice, the notification can be made more clearly according to the type of communication status information.

【0143】

In addition, the communication status notification control unit 42 also periodically notifies the user terminal 2A of the frequency of performing the above-mentioned communication status notification operation, a method of notifying according to the result of communication status monitoring / control, and a method of notifying. Then, from the methods for notifying in response to the request transmitted from the user terminal, the optimum method is selected according to the type of the user terminal 2A to be notified and the type of communication status information to be notified.

【0144】

As described above, by notifying the user terminal 2A of the communication status of the IP network 9 using information such as voice, characters, and images, the communication status of the IP network 9 is clarified to the user terminal 2A. Since the notification is sent, the user can grasp various communication states in the IP network 9 more easily and clearly. (iii) Explanation of communication status request response operation Next, the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to the present invention analyzes the request for monitoring / control and notification of the traffic status and call quality transmitted from the user terminal, and traffic according to the content. The operation of monitoring / controlling the status and call quality and controlling the notification will be described with reference to FIG.

【0145】

Also in FIG. 13, two VoIP gateway devices 1A and 1A'equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention, each of which has the configuration shown in FIG. 5, are connected to the IP network 9 including the router 90. In addition, a general user terminal 2A is connected to the VoIP gateway device 1A. The user terminal 2A connected to the VoIP gateway device 1A monitors the traffic status and determines the communication quality by the traffic status monitoring operation described in (i) above, and the communication status notification operation described in (ii) above. When a request for start, stop, selection, etc. is sent to the VoIP gateway device 1A in the form of a voice signal regarding the notification of traffic status and communication quality by the request analysis unit 50, the content is analyzed by the function of the request analysis unit 50, and the request is answered. The communication status is monitored / controlled or notified accordingly (step D1).

【0146】

The specific procedure will be described below. First, the user operates the DTMF operation circuit 24 of the user terminal 2A according to a predetermined procedure, and causes the user terminal 2A to send a DTMF signal according to a desired request. This DTMF signal is a clear signal based on a specific DTMF operation, and a simple signal that is easy for the user to remember is predetermined according to the request (for example, #, #, #, 1,0). Operate the dials in the order of, etc.).

【0147】

Subsequently, the DTMF detection unit 14 detects the DTMF signal based on the DTMF operation from the voice signals received by the interface unit 11 of the VoIP gateway 1A. Further, the request information analysis unit 51 analyzes the DTMF signal detected by the DTMF detection unit 14, and decodes the desired request corresponding to the DTMF signal.

【0148】

In response to the request analyzed in this way, the request reception control unit 52 controls the operation of monitoring and controlling the communication status in the communication status monitoring control unit 30 and the communication status notification operation in the communication status notification unit 40. Become. That is, in response to a request based on a specific DTMF operation, the request reception control unit 52 analyzes the traffic state of the IP network 9 by the traffic condition monitoring unit 31, or the communication quality of the IP network 9 in the communication quality determination unit 32. Controls such as start and stop are performed for the determination operation of.

【0149】

If the content of the request is related to notification of traffic status or communication quality, the request reception control unit 52 is stored in the communication status storage unit 37 by controlling the communication status notification control unit 42. Information about the traffic status monitoring result by the traffic status monitoring unit 31 and the communication quality determination result by the communication quality determination unit 32 is notified to the user terminal via the interface unit 11 (step D2).

【0150】

The request information analysis unit 51 determines whether or not the DTMF signal detected by the DTMF detection unit 14 includes the DTMF signal corresponding to the request for monitoring / controlling or notifying the communication status from the user terminal. , Always make a judgment, and if a DTMF signal corresponding to any request is included, immediately analyze the content of the request. With this configuration, the user can control the monitoring / control of the communication status and the notification at any time by a specific DTMF operation.

【0151】

(iv) Description of bandwidth expansion request operation Finally, an operation in which the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to the present invention requests the router to change the band allocated to the voice data will be described with reference to FIG. The VoIP gateway device 1A monitors the traffic status of the IP network 9 at regular intervals by performing the traffic status monitoring operation described in (i) above. Based on this monitoring result, when it is determined that the throughput of IP packets of voice data has decreased due to the deterioration of traffic conditions and it has become difficult to ensure sufficient communication quality, the VoIP gateway device 1A is placed on the IP network 9. Sends an instruction to the existing router 90 requesting the expansion of the bandwidth allocated to the voice data (step E1).

【0152】

Specifically, first, in the traffic state monitoring operation described in (i) above, the communication quality determination unit 32 analyzes the traffic state of the IP network 9 by the traffic state monitoring unit 31, especially the voice data in the IP network 9. Judge the communication quality of voice communication via IP network 9 based on the congestion status of.

【0153】

Here, when the communication quality determination unit 32 determines that the communication quality of the voice data in the IP network 9 is lower than a specific level, the band change request unit 33 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13. Causes the IP packet generation decomposition unit 13 to generate a band request IP packet including a signal requesting the router to expand the band used for voice data, and this band request IP packet exists on the IP network 9. Send to IP network 9 with router 90 as the destination.

【0154】

When the communication quality determination unit 32 determines that the communication quality of voice data in the IP network 9 is higher than a specific level, the band change request unit 33 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13. , IP packet generation The router that causes the decomposition unit 13 to generate a band request IP packet containing a signal requesting the router to reduce the band used for voice data, and generates this band request IP packet on the IP network 9. Send 90 to IP network 9 as a destination.

【0155】

Subsequently, the router 90 existing on the IP network 9 changes the band used for voice data according to the request included in the IP packet transmitted from the VoIP gateway device 1A. Specifically, the IP packet transfer unit 91 includes a signal requesting that the band used for voice data be changed from the VoIP gateway device (VoIP gateway device 1A in the current example) connected to the IP network. When a band request IP packet is received, the traffic information monitoring control unit 92 controls the IP packet transfer unit 91, and the IP packet transfer unit 91 changes the band used for voice data in response to the request. is there.

【0156】

With this configuration, the user can easily take measures to improve the communication quality of voice data using the user terminal, and use a router according to the communication quality of voice data. It becomes possible to effectively use the band to be used. Based on the traffic status monitored by the traffic status monitoring unit 31, the communication quality determination unit 32 calculates how much bandwidth is required, and the bandwidth required for the IP packet generated by the IP packet generation decomposition unit 13. It may be configured to include the information of.

【0157】

As described above, according to the VoIP gateway device provided with the communication status notification device according to the present invention, (i) traffic status monitoring operation, (ii) communication status notification operation, (iii) communication status request response operation, and (iv) bandwidth. By performing the expansion request operation, the user can know the traffic status and communication quality of the IP network at any time before the start of voice communication or during voice communication.

【0158】

In addition, when sufficient communication quality cannot be ensured during a call, this can be grasped by a notification from the VoIP gateway device. Further, such communication status monitoring / control and notification can be set or canceled at any time by the user by operating the DTMF. (1-3) Description of Communication Concealment Processing Status Notification Operation in the First Embodiment of the Present Invention Next, regarding the operation in the VoIP communication system of the first embodiment of the present invention, this time, the voice data by the communication status notification device Focusing on the monitoring control operation of the communication concealment processing state, this will be described with reference to FIG.

【0159】

The communication concealment processing state referred to below is not limited to a specific technology such as encryption technology, and broadly describes the state related to the setting / cancellation / selection of various concealment processing used on the IP network 9. It shall point. By the way, in the VoIP communication system of the first embodiment of the present invention, the following four operations are performed as the operations related to the monitoring control and notification of the confidential processing state by the communication state notification device.

【0160】

(i) Operation in which the VoIP gateway device performs communication concealment processing for voice data (concealment processing status monitoring control operation) (ii) Operation to notify the user terminal of the communication concealment processing status performed by the VoIP gateway device (communication status request response operation) (iii) The VoIP gateway device analyzes the request for monitoring / control and notification of the communication concealment processing status transmitted from the user terminal, and controls the communication concealment processing status monitoring / control and notification according to the content. Operation (communication status request response operation) (iv) Operation of the VoIP gateway device to check the confidential processing status of the VoIP gateway device of the communication partner (confidential processing status confirmation operation) Each of these operations will be described step by step below.

【0161】

(i) Explanation of confidential processing status monitoring control operation First, an operation in which a VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention performs communication concealment processing on voice data will be described. The VoIP gateway device 1A performs concealment processing on the voice data transmitted / received to / from the IP network 9 in the communication status monitoring / control unit 30.

【0162】

Specifically, the voice data received from the user terminal by the interface unit 11 and compressed by the voice CODEC unit 12 is subjected to concealment processing by the concealment processing unit 34, and the IP packet generation and decomposition unit 13 performs concealment processing. It is sent to IP network 9 after being converted into an IP packet. Further, the IP packet transmitted from the IP network 9 is decomposed by the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, the voice data is extracted, and then the concealment processing applied to the voice data is released by the concealment processing unit 34. The voice CODEC unit 12 receives the decompression process and transmits the decompression process to the user terminal via the interface unit 11.

【0163】

Here, the concealment processing unit 34 can select and perform at least one of scrambling, encryption, and interleaving as the concealment processing for the voice data. That is, the concealment processing unit 34 has at least one of a specific scrambling rule for scrambling, a specific decryption key for encryption, and a specific interleaving rule for interleaving. You will have one of them.

【0164】

Further, monitoring and control of the communication concealment processing state such as selection of the type of communication concealment processing performed by the concealment processing unit 34 and start / stop of the concealment processing is performed by the concealment processing selection control unit 36. Further, the monitoring / control result of the communication concealment processing state by the concealment processing selection control unit 36 is stored in the communication state storage unit 37 at any time.

【0165】

(ii) Explanation of communication status request response operation First, an operation of notifying the user terminal of the confidential processing status by the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention will be described. This operation is basically the same as the operation described in the communication status notification operation in (ii) in the description of the traffic status notification operation in (1-2) above.

【0166】

That is, the VoIP gateway device 1A uses the VoIP gateway device 1A to monitor and control the communication concealment processing status by the concealment processing selection control unit 36 as information on the communication status monitored and controlled by the communication status monitoring and control unit 30. Notify the connected user terminal 2A (step F1). Specifically, the communication status notification control unit 42 controls the interface unit 11 to store information on the monitoring / control result of the communication concealment processing status stored in the communication status storage unit 37, which is a notification information storage unit. Notify the user terminal 2A using the notification information stored in 41.

【0167】

Here, the communication status notification control unit 42 stores in the notification information storage unit 41 according to the type of the notification destination user terminal 2A recognized by controlling the interface unit 11 and the type of communication status information to be notified. Information to be used for notification is selected from the notification information of voice, text, and image, and the notification is performed using the notification information.

【0168】

(iii) Explanation of communication status request response operation Subsequently, the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to the present invention analyzes the request for monitoring / control and notification of the communication status transmitted from the user terminal, and monitors the communication status according to the content. -The operation of controlling control and notification will be described.

【0169】

This operation is basically the same as the operation described in the communication state request response operation in (iii) in the description of the traffic state notification operation in (1-2) described above. That is, the user terminal 2A connected to the VoIP gateway device 1A monitors and controls the communication concealment processing state in (i) and the communication concealment processing state by the communication status notification operation in (ii). Regarding the notification, a request for start, stop, selection, etc. is transmitted to the VoIP gateway device 1A in the form of a voice signal (step G1).

【0170】

Subsequently, the content of the request is analyzed by the function of the request analysis unit 50, and the communication status is monitored / controlled or notified (step G2) according to the request. (iv) Explanation of confidential processing status confirmation operation Finally, an operation in which the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to the present invention confirms the confidential processing status of the VoIP gateway device of the communication partner will be described with reference to FIG.

【0171】

Also in FIG. 14, two VoIP gateway devices 1A and 1A'equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention, each of which has the configuration shown in FIG. 5, are connected to the IP network 9 including the router 90. Furthermore, general user terminals 2A and 2A'are connected to each VoIP gateway device 1A. Here, in order for the user terminals 2A and 2A'to transmit and receive scrambled, encrypted, and interleaved voice data, the VoIP gateway to which these user terminals 2A and 2A' are connected, respectively. Devices 1A, 1A'must have common scrambling rules, decryption keys, or interleaving rules.

【0172】

Therefore, whether or not the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to the present invention can exchange concealed voice data with the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication partner with the VoIP gateway device 1A. That is, it has a function to confirm whether the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication partner has the scramble rule, the decryption key, and the interleave rule common to the VoIP gateway device 1A.

【0173】

This concealment processing status confirmation operation is mainly performed by the communication destination concealment processing confirmation unit 35 of the VoIP gateway devices 1A and 1A'. Specifically, in the VoIP gateway device 1A, the concealment processing information request unit 351 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to conceal the scramble processing, encryption processing, and interleaving processing from the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13. Containing processed data IP packets containing the data subjected to any of the above processing, and a signal requesting the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication destination to decode and return the above concealed data. The concealment processing request IP packet is generated, and these concealment processing data IP packets and the concealment processing request IP packet are sent to the IP network 9 to the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication destination connected to the IP network 9 (step). H1).

【0174】

Subsequently, in the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication destination, the confidential processing information return unit 354 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, so that the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 receives from the IP packets from the IP network. , Identifies the concealment processing data IP packet and concealment processing request IP packet transmitted from another VoIP gateway device 1A connected to the IP network, and according to the signal contained in the concealment processing request IP packet, the concealment processing data IP Decrypts the concealment processing data contained in the packet, causes the IP packet generation decomposition unit 13 to generate an IP packet containing the decoding result of the concealment processing data, and transmits the concealment processing data IP packet and the concealment processing request IP packet. Return to the original other VoIP gateway device 1A. (Step H2).

【0175】

Further, in the VoIP gateway device 1A, the confidential processing information acquisition unit 352 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13, so that the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 receives from the IP network and depackets the IP packets. From the inside, the decryption result of the concealment processing data returned from the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication destination connected to the IP network in response to the concealment processing data IP packet and the concealment processing request IP packet is acquired, and the concealment processing is performed. The information analysis unit 353 analyzes the state of the communication concealment processing performed by the communication destination VoIP gateway device 1A'based on the decoding result of the concealment processing data by the communication destination VoIP gateway device 1A'acquired by the concealment processing information acquisition unit 352. To do.

【0176】

The communication destination concealment processing confirmation unit 35 selects the following method according to the type of concealment processing performed by the concealment processing unit 34, and performs a concealment processing status confirmation operation of the communication destination. A method to check whether the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication destination has the same scrambling rules as this VoIP gateway device 1A. In this method, the concealment processing information request unit 351 generates a concealment processing data IP packet containing scrambled data by scrambling processing, and sends this to the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication destination together with the concealment processing request IP packet. Send. Furthermore, the concealment processing information analysis unit 353 confirms whether the scrambled concealment processing data can be correctly decoded by the communication destination VoIP gateway device 1A', so that the communication destination VoIP gateway device 1A'is the VoIP. Check if it has the same scrambling rules as gateway device 1A.

【0177】

A method to check whether the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication destination has the same encryption / decryption key as this VoIP gateway device 1A. In this method, the concealment processing information request unit 351 generates a concealment processing data IP packet including data encrypted by encryption processing, and transmits this together with the concealment processing request IP packet to the communication destination VoIP gateway device 1A'. To do. Furthermore, the concealment processing information analysis unit 353 confirms whether the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication destination can correctly decrypt the encrypted concealment processing data, so that the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication destination is the VoIP gateway. Check if you have the same encryption decryption key as device 1A.

【0178】

A method for checking whether the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication destination has the same interleaving rules as this VoIP gateway device 1A. In this method, the concealment processing information request unit 351 generates a concealment processing data IP packet including the data interleaved by the interleaving process, and transmits this together with the concealment processing request IP packet to the communication destination VoIP gateway device 1A'. To do. Furthermore, the concealment processing information analysis unit 353 confirms whether the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication destination can correctly decipher the interleaved concealment processing data, so that the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication destination is the VoIP. Check if it has the same interleaving rules as gateway device 1A.

【0179】

As described above, by selectively using the method of ~, in the VoIP gateway device 1A equipped with the communication status notification device according to the present invention, the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication partner is concealed with the VoIP gateway device 1A. Check if the voice data can be exchanged, that is, if the VoIP gateway device 1A'of the communication partner has the same scrambling rules, decryption keys, and interleaving rules as the VoIP gateway device 1A. can do.

【0180】

The concealment processing selection control unit 36 controls the concealment processing performed by the concealment processing unit 34 based on the concealment processing state of the communication destination VoIP gateway device confirmed by the communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit 35 by the above operation. That is, the concealment processing selection control unit 36 selects the concealment processing performed by the concealment processing unit 34 so that the voice data is transmitted and received using the same type of concealment processing as the concealment processing that can be performed by the communication destination concealment processing. It will be.

【0181】

As described above, according to the VoIP gateway device provided with the communication status notification device according to the present invention, the confidential processing status monitoring control operation in (i), the communication status request response operation in (ii), and the communication in (iii). By performing the status request response operation and the concealment processing status confirmation operation in (iv), the user can easily control the selection, start, stop, etc. of the communication concealment processing for voice data using the user terminal. In addition to being possible, it is also possible to grasp the current setting status of concealment processing.

【0182】

Further, the user can easily select the concealment processing for voice data by using the user terminal while utilizing the concealment processing used for normal data communication such as scrambling processing, encryption processing and interleaving processing. .. In addition, the user can easily grasp the status of the concealment processing in the VoIP gateway device and the user terminal of the other party by using the user terminal, and set the concealment processing for the voice data accordingly. Is also possible.

【0183】

In the following, the services that can be realized by combining the above-mentioned operations (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) will be specifically described with reference to an example of a voice call using a telephone. A service that allows users to set confidential processing by DTMF operation during a call First, during a voice call using a telephone, a user performs a predetermined DTMF operation to send a request to the VoIP gateway device to select and start a specific concealment process.

【0184】

When the DTMF signal is detected by the DTMF detection unit 14 in the VoIP gateway device, the request information analysis unit 51 analyzes the content of the request, and it is determined that the request is to select and start the type of concealment processing. Then, under the control of the communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit 35 by the request reception control unit 52, the VoIP gateway device to which the user terminal of the voice call destination is connected performs the concealment processing specified by the request from the user terminal. Investigate whether it can be used.

【0185】

During that time, the user terminal 2 is notified of a message requesting that the user terminal 2 wait for a while under the control of the interface unit 11 by the communication status notification control unit 42. When it is determined by the investigation of the communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit 35 that the VoIP gateway device of the communication destination supports the concealment processing specified by the user, the concealment processing selection control unit 36 sets the concealment processing unit 34. By controlling, the specified concealment process is started. Further, the user terminal 2 is notified of a message to the effect that the designated concealment process is started by the control of the interface unit 11 by the communication status notification control unit 42.

【0186】

On the other hand, if it is determined by the investigation of the communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit 35 that the VoIP gateway device of the communication destination does not support the concealment processing specified by the user, the communication status notification control unit 42 controls it. The user terminal is notified of a message requesting that the specified concealment process be selected because the specified concealment process cannot be used.

【0187】

If the user selects the concealment process again by the DTMF operation of the user terminal and the specified concealment process can be executed again, the concealment process is started by the above procedure. If none of the concealment processes selected by the user can be executed, the concealment process cannot be performed on the user terminal under the control of the communication status notification control unit 42. Therefore, the voice call is made without performing the concealment process as it is. Notify a message to continue.

【0188】

By these procedures, after making a voice call using concealment processing, the user performs a predetermined DTMF operation during the voice call and sends a request to cancel the concealment processing to the VoIP gateway device. In the VoIP gateway device, the operation of canceling the setting of the concealment process will be performed. In addition, by performing a predetermined DTMF operation before the user requests the selection or start of the concealment process, the VoIP gateway device can select the concealment process setting or selection operation method from the user terminal. It is also possible to notify the user terminal of a message explaining the type of confidential processing and the difference in safety and processing delay of each.

【0189】

When setting confidential processing before starting a call Also, as a variant of, before the call starts, the user makes a call to the VoIP gateway device connected to the user terminal and sends a request to select and start a specific concealment process. It is also possible to check whether the VoIP gateway device of the communication partner supports the specified concealment processing, and then specify the voice call destination and request the start of the voice call.

【0190】

(1-4) Description of Communication Status Notification Operation in the First Embodiment of the Present Invention Among the operations described above, the communication status request response operation of (iii) in each of the descriptions (1-2) and (1-3) is the communication status in the user terminal corresponding to the VoIP gateway device. Communication status request step to send a request for monitoring / control or notification to the VoIP gateway device as voice data, and a request for monitoring / control or notification of the communication status to the voice data received from the corresponding user terminal in the VoIP gateway device. It corresponds to the request analysis step that determines whether it is included and, if it is included, analyzes the content of the request.

【0191】

Further, the traffic state monitoring operation of (i) in the explanation of (1-2) and the concealment processing state monitoring control operation of (i) in the explanation of (1-3) are analyzed in the request analysis step. It corresponds to the communication status monitoring control step that monitors and controls the communication status in the IP network based on the processing status of voice data in the VoIP gateway device according to the content of the request.

【0192】

Further, the communication status notification operation of (ii) in each explanation of (1-2) and (1-3) is monitored and controlled in the communication status monitoring control step according to the content of the request analyzed in the requirement analysis step. It corresponds to the communication status notification step of notifying the corresponding user terminal of the communication status. (2) Description of First Modified Example of First Embodiment of the Present Invention It is also possible to provide the VoIP gateway terminal with the communication status notification device as described in the first embodiment of the present invention.

【0193】

Therefore, as a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, a VoIP communication system as shown in FIG. 1 including a VoIP gateway terminal 1T equipped with the communication status notification device according to the present invention will be described. The VoIP communication system shown in FIG. 1 was used to explain the principle of the present invention, but it is also used to explain the present embodiment in accordance with the above-mentioned purpose in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shall be used.

【0194】

Further, the other VoIP gateway devices and routers used in the present modification have the same configuration as the VoIP gateway devices and routers described in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, in the following description of the configuration, only the VoIP gateway terminal equipped with the communication status notification device according to this modification will be described.

【0195】

(2-1) Description of Configuration of VoIP Gateway Terminal Equipped with Communication Status Notification Device According to First Modification of First Embodiment of the Present Invention First, the configuration of the VoIP gateway terminal equipped with the communication status notification device according to the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a VoIP gateway terminal equipped with a communication status notification device according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. The VoIP gateway terminal is, for example, the VoIP gateway in FIG. It corresponds to the terminal 1T, and has both the VoIP gateway function of transmitting and receiving voice data by performing mutual conversion between the voice signal and the IP packet and the function of the user terminal that performs voice communication, and also in the present invention. It also has such a communication status notification function.

【0196】

Each part of the VoIP gateway terminal 1T shown in FIG. 15 has the same function as each part of the same code in the VoIP gateway device shown in FIG. 5 and the user terminal shown in FIG. 9, except for the points listed below. It is a thing. The communication status notification control unit 42 relates to information regarding the IP network traffic status monitoring result stored in the communication status storage unit 37 by the traffic status monitoring unit 31, and the communication quality determination result of the voice data by the communication quality determination unit 32. A function for displaying information, a selection result of concealment processing by the concealment processing selection control unit 36, and information on the control result on the communication status display unit 28 using the notification information stored in the notification information storage unit 41. Have.

【0197】

The communication status display unit 28 is based on the control by the communication status notification control unit 42, and is stored in the communication status storage unit 37. Information on the IP network traffic status monitoring result by the traffic status monitoring unit 31 and the communication quality determination unit 32. Information on the judgment result of the communication quality of the voice data by, and the information on the selection result and the control result of the concealment processing by the concealment processing selection control unit 36 are displayed by using the notification information stored in the notification information storage unit 41. To do.

【0198】

Further, does the request information analysis unit 51 include the DTMF signal corresponding to the request related to the monitoring / control or notification of the communication status from the user terminal from the DTMF signals input by the user in the DTMF operation circuit 24? It has a function to judge whether or not, and if a DTMF signal corresponding to some request is included, analyze the content of the request.

【0199】

(2-2) Description of Operation Related to First Modified Example of First Embodiment of the Present Invention Next, the operation of the VoIP communication system according to the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The operations performed in the VoIP communication system of the present modification are (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) in the traffic state notification operation in (1-2) described above in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. It is basically the same as each operation of (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) in each operation of (1) and the notification operation of the communication concealment processing state in (1-3). Therefore, in the following, only operations different from the operations listed above will be described.

【0200】

In FIG. 16, for the IP network 9 including the router 90, the VoIP gateway terminal 1T equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention having the configuration shown in FIG. 15 and the present having the configurations shown in FIG. 5 respectively. Two VoIP gateway devices 1'and 1'' equipped with the communication status notification device of the present invention are connected, and a user terminal 2'is further connected to the VoIP gateway device 1'.

【0201】

In the following, we will focus on the operation of the VoIP gateway terminal 1T. When the VoIP gateway terminal 1T requests the router 90 on the IP network 9 and other VoIP gateway devices 1'connected to the IP network 9 to notify the traffic status information and the confidential processing status. Basically, the VoIP gateway terminal 1T itself exchanges IP packets with the target router 90 and other VoIP gateway devices 1'(steps A'1, A'2, step B'1). , B'2). Note that steps A'1 and A'2 and steps B'1 and B'2 in FIG. 16 correspond to steps A1 and A2 and steps B1 and B2 in FIG. 11, respectively.

【0202】

However, if the VoIP gateway terminal 1T is used as a user terminal for an individual user, the identity of this VoIP gateway terminal is the user terminal 2 connected to the VoIP gateway device 1'or the VoIP gateway device 1'of the other party. May be identified by'. Therefore, when performing network monitoring / control operations that may identify the identity of the VoIP gateway terminal 1T to the other party's device or terminal, the VoIP gateway terminal 1T is changed to another VoIP gateway device 1''. The communication status is monitored and controlled (steps X1, X2), and the requested VoIP gateway device 1'' monitors and controls the communication status (steps A''1, A''2, step. B''1, B''2). Note that steps A''1, A''2, steps B''1, and B''2 in FIG. 16 also correspond to steps A1, A2, and steps B1 and B2 in FIG. 11, respectively.

【0203】

(3) Description of Second Modified Example of First Embodiment of the Present Invention Further, the communication state notification device described in the first embodiment of the present invention has two types of communication states, that is, a traffic state on the IP network and a communication concealment processing state for voice data, as specific examples of the communication state of the IP network. It had a configuration that could be monitored, controlled, and notified, but by providing only the parts related to each of these two types of communication states, it is possible to notify only one of the traffic status and the confidential processing status. Needless to say, it is possible to configure it in.

【0204】

In the following, first, as a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, a VoIP gateway terminal equipped with a communication status notification device having a configuration capable of monitoring, controlling and notifying only the traffic status on an IP network. A VoIP communication system as shown in FIG. 1, including 1A, will be described. The VoIP communication system shown in FIG. 1 was used to explain the principle of the present invention, but this embodiment is also described in accordance with the above-mentioned purpose in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shall be used.

【0205】

Further, the user terminal and the router used in the present modification have the same configuration as the user terminal and the router described above in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, in the following description of the configuration, only the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to this modification will be described. (3-1) Description of Configuration of Communication Status Notification Device According to Second Modification of First Embodiment of the Present Invention First, the configuration of the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to the second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

【0206】

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a VoIP gateway device equipped with a communication status notification device according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. The VoIP gateway terminal is, for example, the VoIP gateway in FIG. It corresponds to the device 1A, has a VoIP gateway function of transmitting and receiving voice data by performing mutual conversion between a voice signal and an IP packet, and has a traffic state notification function according to the present invention.

【0207】

Each part of the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. 17 has a function common to each part of the same code in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. (3-2) Description of Operation Related to Second Modification of First Embodiment of the Present Invention Next, the operation of the VoIP communication system according to the second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

【0208】

The operations performed in the VoIP communication system of the present modification are each of (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) in the traffic state notification operation in (1-2) described in the first embodiment of the present invention. It is common with the operation. That is, with a configuration simpler than that of the communication status notification device in the first embodiment, the functions of monitoring / controlling the traffic status on the IP network and notification can be exhibited.

【0209】

(4) Description of the Third Modified Example of the First Embodiment of the Present Invention Subsequently, as a third modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, the figure including a VoIP gateway device 1A equipped with a communication status notification device having a configuration for monitoring, controlling and notifying only the communication concealment processing status for voice data. A VoIP communication system as shown in 1 will be described.

【0210】

The VoIP communication system shown in FIG. 1 was used to explain the principle of the present invention, but this embodiment is also described in accordance with the above-mentioned purpose in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shall be used. Further, the user terminal and the router used in the present modification also have the same configuration as the user terminal and the router described in (1) the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, in the following description of the configuration, only the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to this modification will be described.

【0211】

(4-1) Description of Configuration of Communication Status Notification Device According to Third Modified Example of First Embodiment of the Present Invention First, the configuration of the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to the third modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a VoIP gateway device equipped with a communication status notification device according to a third modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. The VoIP gateway device 1A is, for example, the VoIP in FIG. It corresponds to the gateway device 1A, has a VoIP gateway function of transmitting and receiving voice data by performing mutual conversion between voice signals and IP packets, and also has a communication concealment processing status notification function according to the present invention. is there.

【0212】

Each part of the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. 18 has a common function with each part of the same code in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. (4-2) Description of Operation Related to Third Modified Example of First Embodiment of the Present Invention Next, the operation of the VoIP communication system according to the third modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

【0213】

The operations performed in the VoIP communication system of the present modification are (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) in the communication concealment processing state notification operation in (1-3) described in the first embodiment of the present invention. It is basically the same as each operation of. That is, to explain the processing for the voice signal received from the user terminal, first, the DTMF signal included in the voice signal is detected (I1), and then the voice is added and the voice level is adjusted for the voice signal. Is done (I2). Specific communication concealment processing is set for the audio signal that has undergone such processing (I3). After that, this voice signal for which concealment processing is set is compressed by the voice CODEC (I4), further converted into an IP packet (I5), and this IP packet is sent to the IP network toward the communication destination. Controlled to be sent (I6).

【0214】

To explain the processing for IP packets received from the IP network, first, the IP packets are depacked (J1), and then the appropriate communication concealment processing is released for the extracted voice data (J2). .. The voice signal whose concealment processing has been released is decompressed by the voice CODEC (J3), further voice addition and voice level adjustment are performed (J4), and then sent to the user terminal.

【0215】

Here, in FIG. 19, the compression / decompression processing and the communication concealment processing setting / decompression processing by the voice CODEC applied to the voice signal are performed by the configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. Although the order is reversed, it should be added that in principle either process can be performed first, which does not affect the gist of the present invention.

【0216】

Furthermore, it is determined whether or not the DTMF signal detected from the voice signal received from the user terminal includes the DTMF signal corresponding to the request for selection / control or notification of the concealment processing from the user terminal. If a DTMF signal corresponding to any request is included, the content of the request is analyzed, and control for voice addition / level adjustment and concealment processing settings is performed (K1).

【0217】

In addition, the status of the communication concealment processing is notified by controlling the audio signal transmitted to the user terminal based on the request for selection / control of the concealment processing from the user terminal or the notification. (K2). That is, with a configuration simpler than that of the communication status notification device in the first embodiment, it is possible to exert the functions of monitoring / controlling and notifying the communication concealment processing status for voice data.

【0218】

(5) Description of the Fourth Modification Example of the First Embodiment of the Present Invention Further, the communication status notification device described in the first embodiment of the present invention has a communication status monitoring control unit 30, a communication status notification unit 40, and a requirement analysis unit 50. Among them, the communication status monitoring control unit 30 In principle, it is also possible to exert the functions of monitoring / controlling the communication status and the notification by providing only the communication status notification unit 40.

【0219】

Therefore, this time, as a fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a VoIP gateway terminal 1A equipped with a communication status notification device having only a communication status monitoring control unit and a communication status notification unit. Such a VoIP communication system will be described. The VoIP communication system shown in FIG. 1 was used to explain the principle of the present invention, but this embodiment is also described in accordance with the above-mentioned purpose in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shall be used.

【0220】

Further, the user terminal and the router used in the present embodiment also have the same configuration as the user terminal and the router described above in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, in the following description of the configuration, only the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to this modification will be described.

【0221】

(5-1) Description of Configuration of Communication Status Notification Device According to Fourth Modification of First Embodiment of the Present Invention First, the configuration of the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to the fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a VoIP gateway device equipped with a communication status notification device according to a fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. The VoIP gateway device 1A is, for example, VoIP in FIG. It corresponds to the gateway device 1A, has a VoIP gateway function of transmitting and receiving voice data by performing mutual conversion between voice signals and IP packets, and also has a communication state (traffic state, communication concealment processing state) according to the present invention. It has a notification function of.

【0222】

Each part of the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. 20 has a function common to each part of the same code in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. That is, the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG. 20 has the same configuration as the communication status monitoring control unit 30 and the communication status notification unit 40 included in the VoIP gateway device 1A shown in FIG.

【0223】

In order for the VoIP gateway device to have the functions of the communication status monitoring control unit 30 and the communication status notification unit 40, normally, the communication status monitoring control means (this) for functioning as the communication status monitoring control unit 30. The communication status monitoring control means has a function of monitoring and controlling the communication status in the IP network based on the processing status of voice data in the VoIP gateway device) and the communication status notification means for functioning as the communication status notification unit 40 (). This communication status notification means has a function of notifying the user terminal connected to the VoIP gateway device through the VoIP gateway device of the communication status monitored and controlled by the communication status monitoring control means), in order to make the computer function. The above communication status notification program and data are installed on each VoIP gateway device from the medium on which the communication status notification program and data are recorded.

【0224】

This installation can be done by setting a storage medium including a floppy disk, MO disk, CD-ROM disk, hard disk, or other storage device in the computer, or by using a communication status notification program distributed through the IP network. Good. (5-2) Description of Operation Related to Fourth Deformation Example of First Embodiment of the Present Invention Next, the operation of the VoIP communication system according to the fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

【0225】

The operations performed in the VoIP communication system of this embodiment are the operations (i), (ii), and (iv) in the traffic state notification operation in (1-2) described above in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. It is common to each of the operations (i), (ii), and (iv) in the communication concealment processing status notification operation in (1-3). That is, by omitting the operation based on the request from the user terminal, the VoIP gateway device autonomously monitors the traffic status and the communication concealment processing status with a simpler configuration than the communication status notification device in the first embodiment. It is possible to exert the functions of control and user terminal notification.

【0226】

Here, each operation of (i) and (ii) in (1-2) and (1-3) monitors and controls the communication status in the IP network based on the processing status of voice data in the VoIP gateway device, respectively. It corresponds to the communication status monitoring control step and the communication status notification step of notifying the corresponding user terminal of the communication status based on the monitoring result in the communication status monitoring control step.

【0227】

(5-3) Description of Communication Status Notification Device According to Another Embodiment of the Fourth Modification of the First Embodiment of the Present Invention The communication status notification device according to the fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention described above has a communication status monitoring control unit 30 and a communication status notification unit 40, but only the communication status notification unit 3-4. In principle, it is possible to exert the communication status notification function by providing it.

【0228】

Therefore, as another aspect of the fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, VoIP communication as shown in FIG. 1 includes a VoIP gateway terminal 1A equipped with a communication status notification device having only a communication status notification unit. The system will also be described. The VoIP communication system shown in FIG. 1 was used to explain the principle of the present invention, but this embodiment is also described in accordance with the above-mentioned purpose in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shall be used.

【0229】

Further, the user terminal and the router used in the present embodiment also have the same configuration as the user terminal and the router described above in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, in the following description of the configuration, only the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to this modification will be described.

【0230】

The VoIP gateway device provided with the communication status notification device according to another aspect of the fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention is the communication status notification unit included in the fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention described above. It has the same configuration as 40, except for the points listed below. The communication status notification control unit 42 in this embodiment connects with the IP network 9 by controlling the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 in addition to the functions possessed in the fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. It has a function to grasp the transmission / reception status of IP packets between them and the generation / decomposition status of IP packets.

【0231】

With such a configuration, the VoIP gateway device equipped with the communication status notification device according to the present embodiment performs the following operations. First, the communication status notification control unit 42 controls the IP packet generation / decomposition unit 13 to grasp the transmission / reception status of the IP packet to / from the IP network 9 and the generation / decomposition status of the IP packet.

【0232】

Further, the communication status notification control unit 42 determines the communication status in the IP network based on the transmission / reception status of the IP packet and the generation / decomposition status of the IP packet, and then determines this communication status via the interface unit 11. It will notify the terminal. (6) Description of Fifth Modification Example of First Embodiment of the Present Invention Finally, as a fifth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, a VoIP communication system as shown in FIG. 1 including a user terminal 1B equipped with the communication status display device according to the present invention will be described.

【0233】

The VoIP communication system shown in FIG. 1 was used to explain the principle of the present invention, but this embodiment is also described in accordance with the above-mentioned purpose in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shall be used. Further, the router used in the modified example has the same configuration as the VoIP gateway device and the general router equipped with the communication status notification device according to the present invention described above in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. Shall have. Therefore, in the description of the following configuration, a user terminal equipped with the communication status display device according to the present invention and a VoIP gateway device used together with the user terminal will be described.

【0234】

(6-1) Description of Configuration of VoIP Gateway Device According to Fifth Modified Example of First Embodiment of the Present Invention First, the configuration of the VoIP gateway device according to the fifth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The embodiment VoIP gateway equipment used Oite has a VoIP gateway device basically the same configuration as that described with reference to FIG. 5 in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention, provided with a VoIP gateway function At the same time, it has a communication status notification function according to the present invention.

【0235】

The VoIP gateway device used in the present embodiment is different from the VoIP gateway device used in the first embodiment in the following points. In the VoIP gateway device used in the present embodiment, the communication status notification control unit 42 monitors the voice signal to be input / output processed by the interface unit 11 so that the user terminal 2A connected to the interface unit 11 Has a function of identifying whether or not is the user terminal 2A equipped with the communication status display device according to this embodiment.

【0236】

Further, when the communication status notification control unit 42 recognizes that the user terminal 2A is the user terminal 2A equipped with the communication status display device according to the present embodiment, the communication status notification control unit 42 uses the information stored in the communication status storage unit 37. Display control information to be displayed on the terminal 2A is notified to the user terminal 2A in the form of a voice signal by directly controlling the interface unit 11 without using the notification information stored in the notification information storage unit 41. It is configured to do.

【0237】

(6-2) Description of Configuration of User Terminal According to Fifth Modified Example of First Embodiment of the Present Invention Next, the configuration of the user terminal equipped with the communication status display device according to the fifth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 21. FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a user terminal provided with a communication status display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The user terminal corresponds to, for example, the user terminal 2A in FIG. It is connected to the VoIP gateway device 1A provided with the communication status notification device according to the present invention via a telephone network such as PSTN or ISDN or a switchboard, or directly.

【0238】

The user terminal 2A is provided with a voice communication circuit 21, a voice data input unit 22, a voice data output unit 23, a DTMF operation circuit 24, and an incoming call notification means 25 as parts that exert a function of performing normal voice communication. ing. Each of these parts has a function common to each part having the same reference numeral in the general user terminal shown in FIG.

【0239】

Further, the user terminal 2A has a notification information detection unit 26, a display information storage unit 27, and other parts that fulfill the function of the communication status display device according to the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned parts related to the voice communication function. It has a communication status display unit 28. Here, the notification information detection unit 26 detects the display control information notified from the VoIP gateway device 1A from the voice signals received by the user terminal 2A from the VoIP gateway device 1A.

【0240】

Further, the display information storage unit 27 uses at least one of voice, characters, and images representing information related to the communication status corresponding to the display control information notified from the VoIP gateway device 1A by the communication status display unit 28. It is stored as display information to be displayed. The communication status display unit 28 uses the display information stored in the display information storage unit 27 based on the display control information detected by the notification information detection unit 26, and the IP network notified from the VoIP gateway device 1A. It displays information about the communication status of 9.

【0241】

That is, by having the above configuration, the notification information detection unit 26 can receive information on the communication status of the IP network 9 monitored and controlled by the VoIP gateway device 1A to which the user terminal is connected from the VoIP gateway device 1A. When notified to the terminal, it functions as a notification information detection unit that detects information about the notified communication status, and the display information storage unit 27 displays at least one of voice, text, and image. The communication status display unit 28 uses the display information stored in the display information storage unit based on the information regarding the communication status detected by the notification information detection unit. It will function as a communication status display unit that displays the communication status.

【0242】

(6-2) Description of Operation Related to Fifth Modified Example of First Embodiment of the Present Invention Next, the operation of the VoIP communication system according to the fifth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The operations performed in the VoIP communication system of the present invention are (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) in the traffic state notification operation in (1-2) described above in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention. It is basically the same as each operation of (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) in each operation of (1) and the notification operation of the communication concealment processing state in (1-3). Therefore, in the following, only operations different from the operations listed above will be described.

【0243】

In the VoIP communication system of the present embodiment, when the communication status notification operation of (ii) is performed, the operation is performed according to the following procedure. First, in the VoIP gateway device 1A, when the communication status notification control unit 42 recognizes that the user terminal 2A is the user terminal 2A equipped with the communication status display device according to this embodiment, the communication status storage unit 37 is notified. The display control information for displaying the stored information on the user terminal 2A is directly controlled by the interface unit 11 and notified to the user terminal 2A in the form of an audio signal.

【0244】

On the other hand, in the user terminal 2A, the notification information detection unit 26 detects the display control information notified from the VoIP gateway device 1A from the voice signals received from the VoIP gateway device 1A in the voice communication circuit 21. .. Next, the communication status display unit 28 is notified from the VoIP gateway device 1A using the display information stored in the display information storage unit 27 based on the display control information detected by the notification information detection unit 26. Information on the communication status of the IP network 9 will be displayed.

【0245】

Here, the notification information detection unit 26 has a method of constantly performing a display control information detection operation, a method of periodically performing a display control information detection operation, and a user, according to the voice communication status and the type of communication state. The method of detecting the display control information according to the instruction of is selectively executed. By the above operation, the communication status of the IP network 9 is displayed more clearly on the user terminal 2A, so that the user can grasp various communication statuses in the IP network 9 more easily and clearly. Become.

【0246】

As a VoIP communication system that uses only the user terminal equipped with the communication status display device according to the present embodiment, the VoIP gateway device does not identify the type of the user terminal and always uses the display control information to use the user terminal. It is also possible to envision a VoIP communication system that notifies the user. In this case, the configuration of the VoIP gateway device does not include the notification information storage unit 41, and the communication status notification control unit 42 always uses the display control information to notify the user terminal.

【0247】

(7) Other In each of the above embodiments, as the communication state handled by the communication state notification device according to the present invention, the traffic state of voice data in the IP network and the concealment processing state applied to the voice data have been described as examples. The communication status that can be monitored, controlled, and notified by applying the communication status notification device according to the present invention is not limited to these.

【0248】

For example, the following examples can be given. Configuration that can notify the failure status of the IP network as the communication status The VoIP gateway device provided with the communication status notification device according to the present invention causes a failure in a part of the IP network connected to the router to the connected router, and the failure occurs through the path through the failure point. Requests that this VoIP gateway device be notified of the information when the transmission of IP packets becomes impossible.

【0249】

With this configuration, the communication status notification device according to the present invention can be used not only for the failure state of the network area directly connected to the VoIP gateway device but also via the router connected to the VoIP gateway device. As for the network area connected earlier, it is possible to grasp the failure occurrence state and notify the user terminal of it.

【0250】

A configuration that can notify the number of established connections on the IP network as a communication status The VoIP gateway device provided with the communication status notification device according to the present invention checks the destination of the voice packet transmitted via the router to the router existing on the IP network and notifies the information thereof. Request.

【0251】

With this configuration, the communication status notification device according to the present invention can grasp the number of connections established in the router existing on the IP network and notify the user terminal of this. The above-described embodiments and also can be realized by a VoIP gateway device having essentially the same configuration as the VoIP gateway device in the first embodiment. That is, regarding the failure state of the IP network and the number of established connections on the IP network, the router information request unit 311, the router information acquisition unit 312, and the router information analysis unit 313 of the VoIP gateway device in the first embodiment can be used. It can be monitored.

【0252】

Further, the present invention is not limited to each of the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

【0253】

[Effect of the invention]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention (claims 1, 16 and 18), the communication status of the IP network monitored and controlled by the VoIP gateway device is notified to the user terminal connected to the VoIP gateway device. Therefore, the user can easily grasp various communication states in the IP network by using the user terminal.

【0254】

Further, in the present invention, when a request related to communication status monitoring / control or notification is transmitted from the user terminal to the VoIP gateway device as voice data, the content of the request is analyzed by the VoIP gateway device, and the IP is responded to the request. Since the communication status of the network is monitored and controlled and the notification to the user terminal is performed, the user can easily monitor and control various communication statuses in the IP network and control the content of the notification using the user terminal. Is possible (claims 2,17,19).

【0255】

Furthermore, when a request regarding the start or stop of the communication status notification or a request regarding the selection of the communication status is transmitted as voice data from the user terminal to the VoIP gateway device, the content of the request is analyzed by the VoIP gateway device and the request is made. Notification of the communication status of the IP network to the user terminal can be started or stopped accordingly, or the communication status of the selected IP network can be notified in response to the request. For example, the user can easily start or stop the notification of various communication states in the IP network using the user terminal, or select the communication state for which the notification is desired (claims 3 and 4). ).

【0256】

In addition, using information such as voice, characters and images stored in the VoIP gateway device, the communication status of the IP network is notified to the user terminal, and the voice, characters and images stored in the user terminal are used. The information may be used to display the communication status of the IP network on the user terminal, and in this way, the communication status of the IP network may be notified and displayed to the user terminal more clearly. Therefore, the user can more easily and clearly grasp various communication states in the IP network (claims 5, 15).

【0257】

On the other hand, as one aspect of monitoring and controlling the communication status, if the traffic status of the IP network is monitored and controlled based on the transmission / reception status of the IP packet in the VoIP gateway device, the user can easily use the user terminal. In addition, it is possible to grasp the traffic status in the IP network, monitor and control the traffic status, and control the content of the notification (claim 6).

【0258】

In addition, the VoIP gateway device sends a signal requesting the router existing on the IP network to notify the information about the traffic status, and the VoIP gateway device receives the information about the traffic status notified from the router. It can also be configured to analyze the traffic status of the IP network based on the notification information from the router, which makes it simple while taking advantage of the incoming IP packet monitoring function of conventional VoIP gateway devices. The traffic status can be monitored by various configurations (claim 7).

【0259】

Furthermore, the test IP packet is sent from the VoIP gateway device to another VoIP gateway device connected to the IP network, and the test IP packet returned from the other VoIP gateway device is collected and tested. It can also be configured to analyze the traffic status of the IP network based on the recovery status of IP packets, and in this way, it is a simple configuration while taking advantage of the received IP packet monitoring function of the conventional VoIP gateway device. The traffic status can be monitored by (claim 8).

【0260】

In addition, the communication quality of voice data in the IP network can be determined based on the traffic status monitoring result, and the determination result can be notified to the user terminal. In this way, the user can use it. It is possible to easily grasp the communication quality of voice data by using a personal terminal (claim 9). Furthermore, based on the communication quality judgment result, the VoIP gateway device can be configured to send a signal requesting the router existing on the IP network to change the band used for voice data. In this way, the user can easily take measures for improving the communication quality of the voice data by using the user terminal (claim 10).

【0261】

On the other hand, as one aspect of monitoring and controlling the communication status, if the concealment processing for voice data in the IP network is monitored and controlled, the user can easily use the user terminal to monitor and control the voice data in the IP network. It is possible to grasp the concealment processing to be performed, monitor and control the concealment processing for voice data, and control the content of the notification (claim 11).

【0262】

In addition, the voice data transmitted and received through the VoIP gateway device can be concealed, and the status of the concealment processing can be notified to the user terminal. In this way, the user can use the user terminal. It is possible to easily set / cancel the concealment processing for voice data by using it, and it is also possible to grasp the current setting status of the concealment processing (claim 12).

【0263】

Further, it is possible to configure at least one of scrambling processing, encryption processing and interleaving processing as concealment processing, so that the user can utilize the concealment processing used for normal data communication. It is possible to easily select the concealment processing for voice data using the user terminal (claim 13).

【0264】

In addition, based on the transmission / reception status of IP packets between the VoIP gateway device and other VoIP gateway devices connected to the IP network, the status of concealment processing in other VoIP gateway devices is monitored, and concealment is performed based on the monitoring results. It can also be configured to perform processing, which allows the user to easily grasp the status of concealment processing on the other party's VoIP gateway device or user terminal using the user terminal. At the same time, it is possible to set the concealment processing for the voice data accordingly (claim 14).

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a figure explaining the VoIP communication system to which this invention is applied.

[Figure 2]

It is a principle block diagram of this invention.

[Fig. 3]

It is a principle block diagram of this invention.

[Fig. 4]

It is a principle block diagram of this invention.

[Fig. 5]

It is a functional block diagram of the VoIP gateway device provided with the communication state notification device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 6]

It is a functional block diagram of the traffic state monitoring part which the communication state notification device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention has.

[Fig. 7]

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit included in the communication status notification device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 8]

It is a functional block diagram which showed the VoIP gateway device provided with the communication state notification device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention from another aspect.

[Fig. 9]

It is a functional block diagram of a user terminal.

[Fig. 10]

It is a functional block diagram of a router.

[Fig. 11]

It is a figure explaining the operation of monitoring the traffic state by the VoIP gateway device in the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 12]

It is a figure explaining the notification operation of the communication state by the VoIP gateway device in the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 13]

It is a figure explaining the request operation from a user terminal and the communication state notification operation by a VoIP gateway device in the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 14]

It is a figure explaining the monitoring operation of the concealment processing state by the VoIP gateway device in the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 15]

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a VoIP gateway terminal provided with a communication status notification device according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 16]

It is a figure explaining the monitoring operation of the communication state by the VoIP gateway terminal in the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 17]

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a VoIP gateway terminal provided with a communication status notification device according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 18]

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a VoIP gateway terminal provided with a communication status notification device according to a third modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 19]

It is a figure explaining the concealment operation of the VoIP gateway terminal in the 3rd modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 20]

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a VoIP gateway terminal provided with a communication status notification device according to a fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 21]

It is a functional block diagram of the user terminal provided with the communication state display device which concerns on 5th modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 22]

It is a figure explaining a general VoIP communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,1', 1A, 1A' VoIP gateway equipment 1T VoIP gateway terminal 1T-1 VoIP gateway mechanism of VoIP gateway terminal 1T-2 VoIP gateway terminal user terminal mechanism 1-1 VoIP gateway device 1-2 VoIP trunk 1-3 Internet Telephony Terminal 1-4 Internet facsimile terminal 2,2', 2A, 2A'user terminal 3 Communication status monitoring control unit 3-4 Communication status notification unit 4 Communication status notification unit 5 Requirements Analysis Department 6 Notification information detector 7 Information storage unit for display 8 Communication status display 9 IP network 11 Interface section 12 Voice CODEC section 13 IP packet generation and decomposition unit 14 DTMF detector 21 Voice communication circuit 22 Voice data input section 23 Audio data output section 24 DTMF operation circuit 25 Incoming call notification method 26 Notification information detector 27 Information storage for display 28 Communication status display 30 Communication status monitoring control unit 31 Traffic condition monitoring unit 31-1 Router information notification request data storage unit / router information analysis unit 31-2 Network status grasp / test data storage unit 32 Communication quality judgment unit 32-1 Network status judgment unit 33 Bandwidth change request section 33-1 Bandwidth change request section 34 Concealment Processing Department 34-1 Concealment processing function unit 34-2 Concealment processing control function unit 35 Communication destination concealment processing monitoring unit 35-1 Confidential processing confirmation department of the other party 36 Concealment processing selection control unit 36-1 Concealment processing selection / control function unit 37 Communication status storage 37-1 Network state storage 40 Communication status notification unit 41 Communication status notification control unit 41-1 Service notification message data (voice, text, image) storage unit 42 Information storage for notification 50 Requirements Analysis Department 51 Requirements Analysis Department 51-1 Command / setting information analysis unit using DTMF signals 52 Request reception control unit 60 Service control unit 90 router 91 IP packet transfer section 92 Traffic information monitoring control unit 93 IP packet route selection control unit 311 Router Information Request Department 312 Router Information Acquisition Department 313 Router Information Analysis Department 314 Test packet transmission control unit 315 Test packet reception control unit 316 Test Packet Recovery Analysis Department 317 Test packet return control unit 351 Confidential processing information request department 352 Confidential processing information acquisition department 353 Confidential Processing Information Analysis Department 354 Confidential processing information return department