Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Combined circuit switching and packet switching
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-31
2002-01-15
Kizou, Hassan (Department: 2662)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Combined circuit switching and packet switching
C370S401000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06339592
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, connection device, transmission device, and telephone terminal for connecting a computer network to a telephone, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for connecting a voice communications system used in a computer network to a telephone connected to a public telephone network, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a voice communications system is used between computers having the function of setting voice communications in a voice communications process using an Internet phone in the Internet.
FIG. 1
shows the first conventional technology.
Conventionally, as in the example shown in
FIG. 1
, voice communications are established from a computer
300
connected to a computer network
2
comprising an optical fiber, an Ethernet cable, etc. to another computer
300
′ dial-up-IP-connected to a telephone network
4
through a modem
304
using voice communications processes
302
and
302
′ such as an Internet phone, etc. Voice/data conversion units
301
and
301
′ convert a voice signal received through a microphone into voice data and output the data, or receive digitized voice data, convert it into a voice signal, and output the signal to a speaker, etc.
However, in the dial-up-IP connection commonly used by individual users, a line between the user and the Internet is originally optimized for voice communications. Nevertheless, as shown in
FIG. 1
, modulated, demodulated, or coded non-voice data are transmitted through the line. Additionally, coded voice signals are transmitted through the same line. As a result, there arises the problem that this method is inferior in transmission efficiency and quality to the method of exclusively transmitting voice signals as in the common telephone systems.
When a wireless circuit of, for example, a portable telephone, etc. is used, frequency (line) resources are limited, thereby wasting line resources and deteriorating transmission quality. This holds true with a telephone network using a digital method as well as using an analog method.
To solve the above described problem, a conversion unit for converting voice data and voice signals is provided between a computer network and a user telephone line so that the voice data transmitted through the computer network can be converted into voice signals before arriving at the telephone line. It is assumed that the Net
2
Phone disclosed by the IDT (International Discount Telecommunication Co.) corresponds to this system.
FIG. 2
shows the second conventional technology. In the example shown in
FIG. 2
, a gateway unit
305
for converting a voice data packet into a voice signal for use in the telephone network
4
is provided in the computer network
2
(for example, the Internet) to transmit a signal to an existing telephone network
4
. The gateway unit
305
comprises the voice communications process
302
′ corresponding to the voice communications process
302
of the computer
300
, the voice/data conversion unit
301
′, and a network control unit (NCU)
306
.
However, in this method, it is necessary to newly provide an exclusive voice communications process or improve an existing voice communications process to transmit a signal to a telephone line.
The voice communications process should be improved for each voice communications process. However, it is not economical to improve all voice communications processes now in the market.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims at solving the problem that the transmission efficiency and quality are reduced when voice communications are sent through a communications network, and at allowing a telephone call to be issued from the computer network through a public telephone network, etc. using an existing voice communications process.
The system of transmitting a telephone call from a computer network according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a computer center having one or more first computers capable of setting voice communications and one or more second computers connected to the first computers through the computer network, and one or more telephone terminals connected to the computer center through a telephone network. The first computer includes a first voice communications unit for use between computers and a first voice/data conversion unit functionally connected to the first voice communications unit. The computer center includes one or more second voice/data conversion units, a network control unit connected to the second voice/data conversion unit, an agent process unit, and a telephone number storage unit functionally connected to the agent process unit. When the first voice communications unit is activated in the first computer, the data stream transmitted from the first voice communications unit is received by the agent process unit of the computer center. The agent process unit activates the second voice communications unit, transfers the data stream to the activated second voice communications unit, and sends it to the telephone number stored in the telephone number storage unit by the network control unit, thereby establishing communications between the first computer and the telephone terminal.
The system of transmitting a telephone call from a computer network according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a computer center having one or more first computers capable of setting voice communications and one or more second computers connected to the first computers through the computer network, and one or more telephone terminals connected to the computer center through a telephone network. The first computer includes a first voice communications unit for use between computer networks, a first voice/data conversion unit functionally connected to the first voice communications unit, and a first agent process unit. The computer center includes one or more second voice communications units, a second voice/data conversion unit functionally connected to the second voice communications unit, a network control unit connected to the second voice/data conversion unit, a second agent process unit, and a telephone number storage unit functionally connected to the second agent process unit. When the first agent process unit is activated in the first computer, the first agent process unit communicates with the second agent process unit and activates the first voice communications unit in such a way that the first voice communications unit communicates with the second voice communications unit. The second agent process unit activates the second voice communications unit, and transmits a signal to a telephone number stored in the telephone number storage unit through the network control unit to establish communications between the first computer and the telephone terminal.
The system of transmitting a telephone call from a computer network according to the third aspect of the present invention includes a computer center having one or more first computers capable of setting voice communications and one or more second computers connected to the first computers through the computer network, and one or more telephone terminals connected to the computer center through a telephone network. The first computer includes a first voice communications unit for use between computer networks, a first voice/data conversion unit functionally connected to the first voice communications unit, and a browser unit. The computer center includes one or more second voice communications units, a second voice/data conversion unit functionally connected to the second voice communications unit, a network control unit connected to the second voice/data conversion unit, a second agent process unit, a server unit, and a telephone number storage unit. When the server unit is accessed by the browser unit in the first computer and a specific instruction is issued, the first agent process unit is transmitted from the server unit to the browser unit. The first agent process uni
Fugino Nobutsugu
Iida Ichiro
Nishigaya Takashi
Saito Tamio
Fujitsu Limited
Kizou Hassan
Pezzlo John
Staas & Halsey , LLP
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