Media communication system, and terminal apparatus and signal conversion apparatus in said system

• US 20020051463A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Higuchi, Mamoru
• Granted Patent: US 7,061,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1225 Details of core network interconnection arrangements

Abstract

Disclosed is a media communication system in which communication of media such as sound, image and the like is performed between first and second terminals, each of which is constructed so as to be capable of IP communication, via an IP network. The system includes an IP packetizing unit for IP-packetizing and sending, to the IP network, a media signal sent from the first terminal, and for converting an IP packet received from the IP network to a media signal and sending the media signal to the first terminal, and a media signal transmitting unit for connecting a media/signal converter, which is provided within the first terminal, to the IP packetizing unit to transmit a media signal.

Claims

1. A media communication system for performing media communication between first and second terminals, each of which is constructed so as to be capable of IP communication, via an IP network, comprising:

an IP packetizing unit for IP-packetizing and sending, to the IP network, a media signal sent from the first terminal, and for converting an IP packet received from the IP network to a media signal and sending the media signal to the first terminal;

a media signal transmitting unit for connecting a media/signal converter, which is provided within the first terminal, to said IP packetizing unit, and for transmitting a media signal and

the first terminal having, in addition to said media/signal converter for generating a media signal and receiving a media signal from the IP packetizing unit, a controller for controlling connection to the second terminal and for controlling sending/receiving of a media signal when a call is generated;

wherein when a call is generated, the first terminal performs control in such a manner that said IP packetizing unit operates as its own IP packetizing unit, and controls said media signal transmitting unit to connect said media/signal converter and said IP packetizing unit; and

upon completion of the connection, the first terminal sends and receives media signals to and from the second terminal via said media/signal converter, said media signal transmitting unit, said IP packetizing unit and said IP network

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the controller of said first terminal performs connection control, said controller communicates with said IP packetizing unit to acquire an IP address and port number of said IP packetizing unit, reports this IP address and port number to the second terminal and receives an IP address and port number of the second terminal from the second terminal and reports these to said IP packetizing unit;

said IP packetizing unit packetizes a media signal received from the media/signal converter via said media signal transmitting unit and sends the resulting packet to the IP network using the IP address and port number of the second terminal as the destination; and

the second terminal sends a media-signal IP packet to the IP network using the IP address and port number of said IP packetizing unit as the destination.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said media signal transmitting unit is constructed using a public network.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said media signal transmitting unit is constructed using a mobile communication network, and said mobile communication network is used as IP transmission means to send and receive control signals between the first terminal and said IP packetizing unit.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said media signal transmitting unit includes a telephone on the side of the first terminal, a public telephone network and a telephone on the side of said IP packetizing unit;

and

when the controller of said first terminal performs connection control, said controller calls the telephone on the side of the first terminal from the telephone on the side of the IP packetizing unit and connects said media/signal converter and said IP packetizing unit.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein said media signal transmitting unit includes a telephone on the side of the first terminal, a public telephone network and a telephone on the side of said IP packetizing unit;

and

when the controller of said first terminal performs connection control, said controller calls the telephone on the side of the IP packetizing unit from the telephone on the side of the first terminal and connects said media/signal converter and said IP packetizing unit.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein said IP packetizing unit is disposed within a public telephone network so as to be connectable to a public network switch and so as to be capable of communicating with the first terminal via the IP network.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said IP packetizing unit provided in the public network is constituted by a media gateway and a media gateway controller is provided for communicating with the controller of the first terminal via the IP network to control said media gateway by a predetermined protocol.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein when the controller of said first terminal performs connection control, said controller calls a telephone on the side of the first terminal from said media gateway and connects said media/signal converter and said IP packetizing unit.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein when the controller of said first terminal performs connection control, said controller calls said media gateway from a telephone on the side of the first terminal and connects said media/signal converter and said IP packetizing unit.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the controller of said first terminal is provided with a function of said media gateway controller, and said controller regards elements from a telephone on the side of the first terminal to said IP packetizing unit as one virtual media gateway and controls this virtual media gateway by said protocol.

12. The system according to claim 2, wherein said media signal transmitting unit is constructed using a mobile communication network, said IP packetizing unit is provided within the mobile communication network and communication between the first terminal and said IP packetizing unit is implemented in accordance with a wireless-access communication protocol.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said IP packetizing unit provided within said mobile communication network is constituted by a media gateway and a media gateway controller is provided for communicating with the controller of the first terminal to control said media gateway by a predetermined protocol.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the controller of said first terminal is provided with a function of said media gateway controller, and said controller regards said media gateway and said media gateway controller as one virtual media gateway and controls this virtual media gateway by said protocol.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said media signal transmitting unit is constructed using a mobile communication network, and said mobile communication network is used as IP transmission means to send and receive control signals between the first terminal and said IP packetizing unit.

15. A media communication system for performing media communication between first and second terminals, each of which is constructed so as to be capable of IP communication, via an IP network, comprising:

a public IP network to which the first terminal is connected;

an intracorporate IP network to which the second terminal is connected and which is capable of IP media communication by an extension;

a firewall provided between said public IP network and said intracorporate IP network;

an IP packetizing unit for IP-packetizing and sending, to said intracorporate IP network, a media signal sent from the first terminal, and for converting an IP packet received from said intracorporate IP network to a media signal;

a media signal transmitting unit for connecting a media/signal converter, which is provided within the first terminal, to said IP packetizing unit, and for transmitting a media signal; and

the first terminal having, in addition to said media/signal converter for generating a media signal and receiving a media signal from the IP packetizing unit, a controller for controlling connection to the second terminal and for controlling sending/receiving of a media signal when a call is generated;

wherein the controller of said first terminal performs control via said public IP network, said firewall and said intracorporate IP network in such a manner that said IP packetizing unit operates as its own IP packetizing unit, and controls said media signal transmitting unit to connect said media/signal converter and said IP packetizing unit; and

upon completion of the connection, the first terminal sends and receives media signals to and from the second terminal via said media/signal converter, said media signal transmitting unit, said IP packetizing unit and said intracorporate IP network.

17. A media communication system for performing media communication between first and second terminals, each of which is constructed so as to be capable of IP communication, via an IP network, comprising:

an intracorporate IP network, which is closed within a corporation, to which the first terminal is connected and which is capable of IP media communication;

a public IP network to which the second terminal is connected;

a firewall provided between said intracorporate IP network and said public IP network; and

IP-packet relay means provided between said intracorporate IP network and said public IP network for bypassing said firewall;

the first terminal having;

an IP packetizing unit for IP-packetizing a media signal and sending it to said intracorporate IP network, and for converting an IP packet received from said intracorporate IP network to a media signal; and

a controller for controlling connection to the second terminal and for controlling sending/receiving of a media signal when a call is generated;

wherein when a call is generated, the controller of said first terminal performs control via said intracorporate IP network, said firewall and said public IP network in such a manner that said IP-packet relay means operates as its own relay means, and controls connection in such a manner that a media signal is capable of being transmitted via said intracorporate IP network, said IP-packet relay means and said public IP network; and

upon completion of connection control, the controller sends and receives media signals to and from the second terminal via said intracorporate IP network, said IP-packet relay means and said public IP network.

18. A signal conversion apparatus provided in a base-station facility and connected to an asynchronous communication network, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a control signal from a mobile station via a base station or asynchronous communication network;

means for converting a synchronous voice signal, which the base station has received from the mobile station via a radio channel, to an asynchronous voice signal directed to a destination decided by the control signal; and

sending means for sending the asynchronous voice signal obtained by the conversion to the asynchronous communication network.

19. A signal conversion apparatus provided in a base-station facility and connected to an asynchronous communication network, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a control signal from a mobile station via a base station or asynchronous communication network;

conversion means for receiving an asynchronous voice signal from a destination, which is specified by the control signal, via the asynchronous communication network and converting the asynchronous voice signal to a synchronous voice signal; and

sending means for sending the synchronous voice signal obtained by the conversion to the base station in such a manner that the base station will transmit this signal to the mobile station via the radio channel.

20. A signal conversion apparatus provided in a base-station facility and connected to an asynchronous communication network, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a control signal from a mobil station via a base station or asynchronous communication network;

first conversion means for converting a synchronous voice signal, which a base station has received from a mobile station via a radio channel, to an asynchronous voice signal directed to a destination that has been set;

first sending means for sending the asynchronous voice signal obtained by the conversion to the asynchronous communication network;

second conversion means for receiving an asynchronous voice signal from the set destination via the asynchronous communication network and converting this signal to a synchronous voice signal; and

second sending means for sending the synchronous voice signal obtained by the conversion to the base station in such a manner that this signal will be transmitted to the mobile station via the radio channel.

21. A terminal apparatus in a media communication system for sending and receiving media signals between terminals via an IP packetizing unit for IP-packetizing a media signal and sending it to an IP network and for converting an IP packet received from the IP network to a media signal, a media signal transmitting unit for transmitting a media signal between a terminal and the IP packetizing unit, and the IP network, said terminal apparatus comprising:

a media/signal converter for generating a media signal and receiving a media signal from said IP packetizing unit via said media signal transmitting unit; and

a controller which, when a call is generated, is for performing control in such a manner that said IP packetizing unit operates as its own IP packetizing unit and for controlling said media signal transmitting unit to connect said media/signal converter and said IP packetizing unit.