JP2002504761A - Computer Phone Integrated PBX - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Summary Telephone and data networks (FIG. 1) are achieved by integrating multiple signal switching circuits into a circuit hub device. Each device (hub) is similar in size and appearance to a typical 10 base T, 8 port Ethernet hub, and preferably has an 8 port interface. The interface is constructed and arranged to be interconnectable to telephone lines extending from telephones handling standard analog signals as well as telephone lines extending from the telephone system central office. It therefore acts as an interface device between the two points in the telephone network. Each hub is provided with a signal processing circuit having a digital / analog signal conversion function in the form of a standard telephone encoder / decoder circuit. These Codec circuits are managed by a digital signal processor that is part of the hub's signal processing circuit. The hub circuit also has a general-purpose microprocessor that can handle LAN communications. The hub is configured to communicate with such standard protocols over a LAN. The software is written to interface with ordinary personal computer operating systems and applications.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to telephone networks, and more particularly, to networks integrated with computer LAN systems.

Description of the Related Art The following techniques limit the current state of the art in the field of the present invention. Slavin (US Pat. No. 3,889,063) is a multiplexed digital data communication system that multiplexes analog signals received from a conventional telephone system having multiple channels at a high sampling rate and converts them into a series of individual digital signals in a series of time slots. Provide system. The system includes data transmission means for using a data signal in place of the discrete digital signal in periodically spaced time slots. The communication system includes a plurality of local stations coupled to a common transmission line to which a series of individual digital signals are applied, each local station demultiplexing a portion of the individual digital signals destined for its purpose, It is used to convert to an analog signal and supply the analog signal to a user. Similarly, local stations can multiplex and digitize user-initialized analog signals so that they can be applied to transmission lines, and central offices can demultiplex and convert digital signals to analog signals. it can.

[0003] Agricola et al. (US Pat. No. 4,281,410) digitally build a connection between a terminal unit, an audio signal transmitter and a factory, along with a connection network provided for the exchange of speech and data information. A circuit device for telecommunications having a special connection network for switching audio signals to a terminal unit, and in particular, a telephone switching facility for digitally switching communications by time division.

[0004] Duncanson et al. (US Pat. No. 4,884,269) provide a method and apparatus for enabling communication over an analog telephone line using an ISDN device as shown. A first interface (12) receives ISDN format data from an ISDN terminal equipment (TE) device (10), removes D channel data from the ISDN data,
The channel data is provided to the synchronous modem (14). Modem (14) is an analog telephone line
A modulated carrier wave corresponding to the D channel data is placed on (15). The modulated carrier is routed to another analog telephone line (17) through a telephone switch (16). A second synchronous modem (20) receives the modulated carrier, demodulates the modulated carrier to recover data, and provides the data to a second interface (22). The second interface (22) receives data from the modem (20), inserts the data into D-channel information which is an ISDN data stream, and inserts the ISDN data stream into an ISDN network terminal (IS) of an ISDN switch (24). NT) device. The result is that the two ISDN devices can communicate with each other even in areas where the local telephone company does not provide ISDN switching capabilities and the two ISDN devices must communicate with each other using a non-ISDN medium such as an analog telephone line. It is. Moreover, ISDN devices can be tested and evaluated for compatibility and operation with ISDN switches without having to transport the ISDN device to an area where the local telephone company provides ISDN switching capabilities.

[0005] Yoshida et al. (US Pat. No. 4,922,484) provide an ISDN remote switching unit for harmonizing analog telephone subscriber lines with ISDN digital subscriber lines, which is a conventional analog telephone subscriber. At least one signal converter provided for each conventional analog telephone subscriber so that each line signal, address signal and audible tone signal is converted to the signaling of the ISDN digital telephone subscriber line; A traffic concentrator connected to the signal converter and located at a location remote from the host exchange, whereby the signaling between the remote station and the host station is made possible by analog telephone subscribers and ISDN digital telephone subscribers. Are unified for both.

Kagami (US Pat. No. 5,113,396) provides an ISDN channel line interface for converting an analog signal from an analog communication terminal into digital data and transmitting the converted digital data to an ISDN B channel. Digital data from the ISDN B channel is converted to an analog signal, and the converted analog signal is then transmitted to an analog communication terminal.

[0007] Steinka et al. (US Pat. No. 5,134,611) provide a method and system for facilitating communication between multiple units of data terminal equipment (DTE) connected together via a communication line. The first DTE unit is located in the digital network and the second
The DTE unit is located in either the digital or analog network. First DT
If a call from the E unit is to be placed in either the digital or analog network, a first call is made to identify the characteristics of the second DTE unit that was called. The call is confirmed when the second DTE unit that receives the call returns an indication that it also has digital communication capability. However, if the indication from the second DTE unit that receives the call is an indication that it does not have digital communication capability, the first DTE unit makes the second call through a modem in a terminal adapter in the system. Go to the second DTE unit. The system can also receive calls made from outside the digital network to the first DTE unit. The system also has the ability to establish an error-free connection between the first DTE unit and the second DTE unit.

[0008] Fornek et al. (US Pat. No. 5,305,312) provide an interface to an integrated services digital network (ISDN) line that can cover up to two analog dual tone multi-frequency telephones and up to four personal computers or data terminals. I do. A stored program controlled processor controls access to the ISDN line for analog and digital interface circuits. The processor also provides access to switch-controlled ISDN functions (eg, call waiting, call hold, etc.) for analog telephones.

[0009] Grimes et al. (US Pat. No. 5,463,623) provide a system that combines LAN and remote communication capabilities to provide high-speed wireless LAN communication capabilities while providing wireless ISDN communication capabilities within the same office. LAN information and ISDN information are communicated via a common transmission medium. With this system, the user can connect the wireless ISDN digital terminal to any other ISDN equipment anywhere in the PBX switch system or in the public network. This system undertakes information communication between the wireless LAN unit and ISDN equipment. This feature allows, for example, a local computer to use a local LAN interface
It can communicate with remote computers via ISDN switching equipment. Further, the cost of hiding unsightly wiring in an office environment can be avoided, and the cost of moving and relocating equipment can be minimized.

[0010] Lynch et al. (US Pat. No. 5,515,373) describe a new / existing technology that enables a high-performance, low-cost telecommunications platform to support a wide range of fax, data, voice and other data streams in an intuitive manner. Provides a low-cost, high-performance, medium bandwidth (less than 2 Mbps) wide area telecommunications interface to computers. This telecommunications interface provides a very low cost solution that allows a wide range of existing computers to be connected internationally, while enabling high performance side area data transfer. Thus, convenient and reliable wide-area telecommunications via telephone lines can be achieved. From a rudimentary point of view, this telecommunications interface provides a sophisticated and economical fax / data modem. The telecommunications interface provides both a time division multiplexed interface mode for constant bit rate communication and a packetized interface mode for variable bit rate communication. Multiple streams of digital data and / or analog derived data can be handled simultaneously. DMA and non-DMA interface modes are provided to achieve compatibility with a wide range of existing / new computers.

[0011] Giovannoni et al. (US Pat. No. 5,659,684) provide a PC adapter card with a data service unit (DSU) / channel service unit (CSU) driven at least in part by control means functioning as a LAN interface emulator. Use one PC to another PC, PC to LAN, and one LAN to another LAN
And a method and apparatus for enabling a virtual local connection via a synchronous digital wide area network (allowing a LAN to be effectively extended through a synchronous digital wide area network on a virtual basis). The present invention configures a PC adapter card under program control so that at least one PC and at least one LAN each separately connected to a network can be connected via gateway access through a digital wide area network, User using PC motherboard microprocessor
Enables application software to run while using new control measures to run packet protocols (eg, Frame Relay, X25, SMDS, etc.)
) Method (and corresponding equipment) to handle real-time constraints
It is about.

The subject of the present invention appears to be similar to some references in structure and method of operation. It is well known to process digital and analog signals in parallel by conversion from one form to another in a distribution system. The anticipation of packetizing information is also well known. The use of hubs for local interface connections in LANs and the use of intermediate interface circuits or hubs in wireless interconnects is also well known. Nevertheless, the telephone computer LAN provided as taught in this application by combining hub technology with integrated voice / data signals is new. The device that enables this new network, the telephone hub described below, is also compact, inexpensive to manufacture, very simple to use (install and maintain), and offers other advantages over the prior art. It is novel in that it can provide audio signal processing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention teaches certain advantages in construction and use which evoked the objects set forth below. The present invention provides a new business communication system that fuses telephones and computers into a more integrated, more powerful, and more cost-effective system once imagined. The present invention combines the know-how of PBX, personal computer data processing, local area network, intranet, voice, data and multimedia technologies. This is the current centralized, exclusive PBX
Replaces the system and related systems (ACD, IVR, reservation dialing, etc.). Conceptually speaking, current PBX devices have been relatively unchanged for a long time with respect to distribution networking, microprocessor interfaces and DSP technology. Although personal computers are used under Windows, Unix and other well-known operating systems, despite having excellent platforms for general-purpose data processing and general-purpose networking, they still provide optimal real-time It is not designed to have the efficiency required for processing and real-time transmission. Today's proprietary centralized PBX technology is both expensive and stagnant. Current personal computer (PC) based systems with PBX devices and PC based interfaces await advanced software development to achieve improved computer telephone integration.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a distributed (physically enhanced) telephone interface network having advantages not taught by the prior art. Another object is to provide a system that can complement or replace standard PBX technology. A further object is to provide a cost-effective system that can be expanded without limitation as needed to ensure the required bandwidth and the required operating speed. A further object is to provide a hub-type device for enabling the network of the present invention, which is a key component required for the success of such a network.

[0015] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a distribution network of hub type devices of an Ethernet type local area network (LAN). The hub device of the present invention is a telephone (telep).
hony) Let's call it an interface hub, or simply “hub”. The hub is similar in configuration and appearance to a typical 10 base T, 8 port Ethernet hub, which is well known in the art. The hub preferably has an eight port interface. The interface is configured and arranged to allow interconnection to telephone lines extending from telephones handling standard analog signals as well as telephone lines extending from the telephone system central office (CO). It therefore acts as an interface device between the two points in the telephone network. Each hub is provided with a signal processing circuit having a digital / analog signal conversion function in the form of a standard telephone coder / decoder (Codec) circuit. The Codec circuit is managed by a digital signal processor (DSP) that is part of the hub's signal processing unit.
The hub circuit also has a general-purpose microprocessor that can handle Ethernet LAN communications. The hub is located so that it can communicate with standard protocols such as TCP / IP via LAN. The software is an ordinary personal computer (PC)
It is written to interface with any operating system or application. The group of software programs that enable communication between the hub and the PC are telecommunications operating systems.

The hub runs on this telecommunications operating system and is therefore able to connect naturally to all standard network systems such as the Internet. The hubs are interconnected as part of a LAN, so they integrate naturally with a Windows ^™ (Microsoft) -based PC environment, thus creating a physically simple form with operation management through well-known click-and-drag technology I can do it.

A hub is a hybrid device that combines a telephone network connectable with a packet switched LAN interface with digital signal processing (DSP) functions. As mentioned above, either the CO origin (trunk) or the central office end (telephone) telephone line is compatible with the hub via Codec. In the preferred embodiment, the DSP device is called a telephone signal processor (TSP). Each hub has two TSPs, each with access to four Codec devices. The TSP receives a digitized audio signal from the Codec or sends a digitized audio signal to the Codec so that it can be converted to an analog signal and transmitted to the telephone port. In addition to receiving data from the Codec or transmitting data to the Codec, the TSP can process the received digitized audio signal data for speech recognition, DTMF, call progress analysis and other tasks. Each TSP uses about 1 megabyte of local random access memory (RAM) and shares 12-16 megabytes of RAM for audio data buffering.

Each TSP memory has voice recognition, facsimile function, modem function, voice synthesis, DTMF
Includes programs needed to process phone data such as recognition, DTMF generation, and call progress analysis. Such programs are well known in the art and will not be described further here. Information on phone port configuration, status and support is also available at the TS
P Stored in memory.

A command control processor (CCP) memory contains the programs and information necessary to process any changes in the state of the telephone port as directed by the TSP. This includes all other TI hubs, their ports, and all connection address information to the PC or network server assigned for receiving or delivering phone data. Any other scripts or programmed actions on the telephone data are retained here. Telephone Data Buffer Dictionary (TDD) RAM
Used to hold telephone data such as voice mail, automatic attachment scripts, connection address information for larger configurations.

Each communication process involves transactions between the TSP, the CCP and, if necessary, the Codec and Ethernet interfaces for LAN telephone data and / or CO LAN telephone data. The processes described herein may involve hundreds to thousands or more individual networks handled by a distributed network architecture of a hub with personal computers or other types of computers over a common communication medium such as a LAN, intranet, or the Internet. One of the steps. This procedure allows the ringing trunk to be connected to a particular central office telephone, thus allowing conversations between users within the system and between users and people outside the system.

As shown in FIG. 2, the process for connecting a ringing trunk starts with a change in state of the hub telephone port, a process handled by the TSP. As the phone port status changes, the phone port status table is updated to reflect the new status of the port. If the new state is not a ringing trunk, a specific procedure is started to handle another process. If the new state is a ringing trunk, the CCP is notified and initiates the process of connecting this telephone line and enabling telephone conversation. After the CCP receives information from the TSP about ringing trunk conditions at a particular telephone port, it checks the connection data from its TDD. This data informs the CCP which procedure to follow when the condition appears on the telephone port. Other procedures may include automatic attachment scripts, transfer to ACD groups, sending caller information for tracking procedures on another computer, and other processes. If the telephone port connection data defines that port to connect to a particular central office telephone, the procedure continues; otherwise, a different procedure begins. The hub involved is queried about the status of the designated in-house equipment. If the designated local office is "on hook", i.e., the telephone is placed and not in use, it is ready to talk and a telephone conversation can begin. Otherwise, the local office is busy and the incoming ringing trunk will be handled by a different procedure, requiring voice mail, busy tone transmission or other processes.

When the local unit is in the on-hook state, it is instructed to talk by a command from the calling hub to the destination hub at the location where the designated local unit is located. If there is a response from the local unit, a connection for transmitting the voice packet to the specified local unit is made, and when the voice packet from the specified local unit is sent to the calling line, that is, the connection is made. At times, the internal equipment goes off-hook.

In practice, office LANs are installed and connected in a manner well known in the art. One telephone LAN connects all telephone hubs and can connect to one or more telephone services. The hub can also be connected to the office LAN. This provides perfect integration between office computers and telephone systems compared to the usual way of interconnecting an office LAN to an office BPX through constrained and expensive interface hardware / software systems.

Thus, from the above description, it can be seen that the present invention provides, as shown in FIG. 3, a signal processing circuit providing a plurality of, preferably eight, signal ports for transmitting and receiving telephone signals, a common type managed by a TSP. Digital / analog signal conversion means and common-type general-purpose microprocessor (CCP) capable of processing Ethernet communication signals
It is understood that the present invention is advantageous as a signal processing device (hub) composed of Here, the signal processing circuit is configured to be able to communicate with a standard LAN-based protocol via a local area network, and the device is written so that an interface can be connected between the device and a personal computer. Is operated by the software instruction set. Such software instruction sets are of a common type that can be written by those skilled in the art.

Preferably, the signal processing circuit comprises two telephone signal processors, each processor having access to four Codec devices, receiving digitized audio signals from the Codec devices, and wherein the device is connected to the Codec devices. To one of the signal ports. Preferably, each of the telephone signal processors is configured to process the digitized audio signal data for speech recognition, DTMF and call progress analysis. Preferably, each of the telephone signal processors has at least about one megabit of random access memory and at least 12-16 megabits of random access memory that can be shared for voice data buffering.

The present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a method for processing a ringing trunk for connection inside a telephone system network, the method comprising the following steps. That is, the method comprises the steps of providing a network of discrete distributed telephone signal processing circuits, sensing a change in state at one port of the processing circuit, and setting the telephone port state to reflect the new state of the port. Updating the table; determining if the change in state is due to a ringing trunk; performing processing for another state change if the trunk is not ringing; ringing the trunk; Connecting a ringing trunk when in, obtaining connection data for the appropriate port from the telephone data dictionary, determining whether the port is defined as being connected to a particular local office, Steps to handle other connections when a specific local unit is not set, specific Determining whether the particular local unit is on-hook when the internal unit is set, making a connection if the specific local unit is on-hook, and identifying And processing another operation when the local unit is off-hook.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention relates to a first local area network including a plurality of data signal processing means such as, but not limited to, a plurality of personal computers, and the first local area network. Like the local area network, the present invention provides a communication network including a second local area network including a plurality of means for processing audio signals such as ordinary telephones. In the first local area network,
A plurality of data signal processing means are connected to each other through a plurality of data signal switching hubs, such as standard Ethernet interfaces, by a first distributed signal carrying means, such as copper or fiber optic transmission lines. All data signal processing means are interconnected in a data signal accessible manner, and in the second local area network, the plurality of audio signal processing means comprises a plurality of audio signal switching hubs which are the subject of this application. , Each of the audio signal processing means is interconnected in such a way that all other audio signal processing means can be accessed by audio signals by means of a second distributed signal carrying means not different from the first. The first local area network and the second local area network are arranged so that a data signal starting at any of the data signal processing means may end at any of the audio signal processing means and starting with any of the audio signal processing means. The audio signal is also integrated so that it can end with any of the data signal processing means. Such integration is well known in the art and will not be described further here.

The communication network preferably further comprises means for controlling the destination of each data signal originating in the first local area network, preferably by means of first distributed signal carrying means. Interconnected by a known type of computer controlled data storage logic and means for controlling the destination of each audio signal originating in the second local area network, preferably by means of a second distributed signal carrying means Similar means (telephone server) interconnected with a second local area network.

The communication network is preferably such that the first local area network is interconnected with at least one remote data processing network, such as the Internet, so that data signals can be exchanged and the second local area network is interconnected. At least one area network
It is interconnected with a remote telephone network, such as one telephone utility, so that voice signals can be interchanged.

The communication network preferably has at least one of the first and second local area networks interconnected with at least one remote data processing network and at least one remote telephone network so that data signals and The audio signals are configured to be interchangeable.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of at least one preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is not so limited. Rather, the scope of the present invention should be construed only in connection with the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein each floor has two risings.
FIG. 1 shows a typical installation of a multi-storey office with a closet. Since all telephone computer LAN cables are terminated in the rising closet, the computer LAN hub and telephone interface hub in this rising closet are connected to hubs on other floors, so that the telephone LAN and office LAN are connected. Completed with signals from both LANs traveling between the closets over a common line.

FIG. 2 is a logic flow diagram showing the logic steps used to connect ringing trunks in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram that teaches elements and element interconnections in a hub-type device that limits the present invention.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP , KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZWF Term (reference) 5K026 AA01 GG00 5K033 AA04 AA09 BA04 BA14 CB01 CB14 DA06 DA16 DB10 DB12 DB14 DB17 5K049 AA01 5K051 BB01 BB02 DD03 5K101 LL05 RR11 [Continued from the abstract] It is written to be able to interface with the application.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A signal processing circuit having a plurality of signal ports for transmitting and receiving telephone signals, a digital / analog signal conversion means managed by a digital signal processor, and a general-purpose microcontroller capable of processing communication signals such as Ethernet signals. In a signal processing device including a processor, the signal processing circuit is configured to be able to communicate with a standard local area network protocol via a local area network, and the device is configured to communicate between the device and a personal computer. A signal processing device operated by a software instruction set written to be able to interface. 2. The signal processing circuit comprising two telephone signal processors, each processor having access to four Codec devices, receiving digitized audio signals from the Codec devices, and the apparatus comprising: The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus transmits an analog signal from a device to any one of the signal ports. 3. The telephone signal processor of claim 2, wherein each of the telephone signal processors is configured to process the digitized audio signal data for speech recognition, DTMF, call progress analysis, and caller identification. Equipment. 4. Each of said telephone signal processors comprises approximately 1 megabit of random access memory and 12-16 megabits of random access memory which can be shared for voice data buffering. , Claim 3
An apparatus according to claim 1. 5. A method for processing ringing trunks for connections within a telephone system network, comprising: A) providing a network of discretely distributed telephone signal processing circuits; and B) one port of said processing circuit. C) updating the port state table to reflect the new state of the port, D) identifying whether the state change is due to a ringing trunk. E) processing another state change if the trunk is not ringing; F) connecting a ringing trunk if the trunk is ringing; G) telephone data dictionary Obtaining connection data on an appropriate port from H) the said port is connected to a specific in-house device I) the step of processing another connection if a specific local unit is not set; J) the specific local unit being turned on if a specific local unit is set. K) determining whether the particular local unit is in the on-hook state; K) making a connection if the specific local unit is in the on-hook state; and Processing the operation of the method. 6. A data signal processing means comprising a plurality of data signal processing means, each of said data signal processing means being provided by a first distributed signal carrying means through a plurality of data signal switching hubs. A first local area network interconnected so that the means can be accessed with a data signal, and a plurality of audio signal processing means, the second distributed signal carrier through a plurality of audio signal switching hubs. A communication network comprising a second local area network interconnected by means of means so that each of the audio signal processing means is accessible by audio signal to all other audio signal processing means; The local area network and the second local area network communicate with each other through a plurality of audio signal switching hubs. So that a data signal that starts with any of the signal processing means may end with any of the audio signal processing means, and a sound signal that starts with any of the audio signal processing means may end with any of the data signal processing means. A communication network, which is integrated. 7. A means for controlling the destination of each data signal originating in said first local area network interconnected with said first local area network by said first distributed signal carrying means, and Interconnected with said second local area network by said second distributed signal carrying means,
7. A communication network according to claim 6, comprising means for controlling the destination of each audio signal originating at said second local area network. 8. The communication network according to claim 7, wherein said first local area network is interconnected with at least one remote data processing network so that data signals can be interchanged. 9. The communication network according to claim 7, wherein said second local area network is interconnected with at least one remote telephone network so that voice signals can be interchanged. 10. At least one of said first and second local area networks is interconnected with at least one remote data processing network and at least one remote telephone network, wherein data and voice signals are transmitted. The communication network according to claim 7, which is interchangeable.