Multimedia call distribution system

• US 6,778,661 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yumoto, Kazuma, Nakayama, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US09/510,065
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 370/270, 370/352, 370/389, 370/401, 379/265.01, 379/265.02, 379/265.09, 379/900, 379/908
• US Class Current: 379/265.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5183 Call or contact centers with computer-telephony arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5232 Call distribution algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13248 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1336 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/64 Distributing or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/908 Multimedia

Abstract

The multimedia call distribution system maintains call connection devices, a multimedia call distribution device, and terminal devices. When a call connection request is received, each of the call connection devices issues an inquiry to the multimedia call distribution device about a terminal device to which a call is to be connected. The call connection device connects the call to the terminal device as a response to the inquiry by the multimedia call distribution device

The multimedia call distribution device monitors communication conditions of each terminal device about respective types of media, and selects one terminal device that can preform real-time communication and informs the call connection device that has issued the inquiry of the selected device as a response, when the inquiry is received from the call connection device, and when a type of media of the call connected by the call connection device that has issued the inquiry is a type of media that preform real-time communication.

Claims

1. A multimedia call distribution system comprising:

a plurality of call connection devices that connect calls of respective types of media different from one another;

a multimedia call distribution device; and

a plurality of terminal devices that can perform communication by calls of plural different types of media, wherein;

each of said call connection devices comprises;

an inquiry means that issues an inquiry to said multimedia call distribution device about a terminal device to which a call is to be connected, when a call connection request is received, and

a connection means for connecting the call to the terminal device informed as a response to said inquiry, by said multimedia call distribution device; and

said multimedia call distribution device comprises;

a monitoring means for monitoring communication conditions of each terminal, device about respective types of media, and

a connection destination deciding means for selecting one terminal device that can at least perform real-time communication, when said inquiry is received from said call connection device and when a type of media of a call connected by the call connection device that has issued the inquiry is a type of media that at least preforms real-time communication, said connection destination deciding means informing the call connection device that has issued inquiry, of the selected terminal device as a response to said inquiry.

2. The multimedia call distribution system according to claim 1, wherein:

said system comprising;

receiving means that, when said call connection device receives a call connection request, receives contents demanded in communication of the call realized by said call connection request, from a source of sending said call connection request; and

media conversion means for sending received contents of communication to a terminal device through a call of a different type of media from a type of media of the call for which the inquiry has been issued, wherein;

said receiving means connects itself to the call for which the inquiry has been issued, to receive the contents of the communication by said call, when said connection destination deciding means can not select a terminal device since there does not exist a terminal device that can at least perform real-time communication.

3. The multimedia call distribution system according to claim 2, wherein:

said different type of media from the type of media of the call for which the inquiry has been issued is a type of media that at least performs non-real-time communication.

4. The multimedia call distribution system according to claim 1, comprising:

media change requesting means for requesting a source that has sent said call connection request for which the inquiry has been issued to send a call of a different type of media, when said connection destination deciding means can not select a terminal device since there does not exist a terminal device that can at least perform real-time communication; and

means for requesting another call connection device that can communicate through said different type of media, to process a media change request, accompanying said notice.

5. A multimedia call distribution device used in a multimedia call distribution system, said system comprising a plurality of call connection device that connect calls of respective types of media different from one another, and a plurality of terminal devices that can perform communication by calls of plural different types of media, and said multimedia call distribution device comprising:

means for receiving an inquiry about a terminal device to which a call is to be connected, said inquiry being issued by each of said call connection devices upon receiving a call connection request;

monitoring means for monitoring communication conditions of each of said terminal devices about respective types of media, and

connection destination deciding means for selecting one terminal device that can at least perform real-time communication, as a terminal device that is connected with the call by said call connection device when a type of media of the call that is connected by said call connection device is a type of media that at least performs real-time communication, said connection destination deciding means informing the call connection device that has issued said inquiry, of the selected terminal device as a response to said inquiry.

6. The multimedia call distribution device according to claim 5, wherein:

said multimedia call distribution device comprises means for requiring said call connection device to make a media change request to a source of sending the call connection request for sending a call, through a different type of media, when said connection destination deciding means can not select a terminal device since there does not exist a terminal device that can perform real-time communication.

7. A call connection device used in a multimedia call distribution system in which a multimedia call distribution device distributes connections of calls of respective types of media different from one another into a plurality of terminal devices that can perform communication through plural different types of media, said call connection device comprising:

inquiry means that issues an inquiry to said multimedia call distribution device about a terminal device to which a call is to be connected when a call connection request is received, and

connection means for connecting the call to the terminal device that is informed as a response to said inquiry, by said multimedia call distribution device.

8. The call connection device according to claim 7, comprising:

receiving means that, when a call connection request is received, receives contents demanded in communication of the call realized by said call connection request, from a source of sending said call connection request; and

media conversion means for sending contents of received communication to a terminal device by a call of a different type of media different from a type of media of the call for which the inquiry has been issued;

wherein;

said receiving means connects itself to the call for which the inquiry has been issued, to receive the contents of the communication by said call, when there does not exist a terminal device that can at least perform real-time communication.

9. The call connection device according to claim 7, comprising:

means for informing a source that has sent the call connection request for which the inquiry has been issued, about a media change request to said source for sending a call, of a different type of media, when said connection destination deciding means can not select a terminal device since there does not exist a terminal device that can at least perform real-time communication; and

means for requesting another call connection device that can communicate through said different type of media, to process the media change request, accompanying said notice.

10. A storage medium in which a program to be read and executed by a computer is stored, wherein:

said program carries out following steps in a multimedia call distribution system comprising a plurality of call connection devices that connect calls of respective types of media different from one another, a multimedia call distribution device, and a plurality of terminal devices that can perform communication by calls of plural different types of media;

namely, the steps of;

making each of said call connection devices;

issue an inquiry to said multimedia call distribution device about a terminal device to which a call is to be connected when a connection request, for the call is received, and

connect the call to the terminal device that is informed as a response to said inquiry, by said multimedia call distribution device; and

making said multimedia call distribution device;

monitor respective communication conditions of each of said terminal devices about the types of media,

select one of terminal devices that are not involved at least in communication of a type of media that performs real-time communication, when said multimedia call distribution device receives said inquiry from said call, connection device, and when the type of media of the call to be connected by the call connection device that has issued the inquiry is a type of media that performs at least real-time communication, and

inform said call connection device that has issued the inquiry, of the selected terminal device as a response to said inquiry.

11. The storage medium that stores a program to be read and executed by a computer, according to claim 10, wherein:

said program makes said call connection device carry out the steps of;

sending received contents of communication to a terminal device by a call of a different type of media different from a type of media of the call for which the inquiry has been issued; and

connecting to the call for which said request has arrived, and receiving contents of communication by said call, when said one terminal device can not be selected since there does not exist a terminal device that can at least perform real-time communication, with respect to said call connection request.

12. The storage medium that stores a program to be read and executed by a computer according to claim 11, wherein:

said different type of media different from the type of media of the call for which the inquiry has been issued means a type of media that performs at least non-real-time communication.

13. The storage medium that stores a program to be read and executed by a computer, according to claim 10, wherein:

said program makes said call connection device carry out the steps of;

making a media change request to a source that has sent the call connection request for which the inquiry has issued, for sending a call of a different type of media, when said one terminal can not be selected since there does not exist a terminal device that can perform at least real-time communication, and

requesting another call connection device that can communicate through said different type of media, to process the media change request, accompanying the notice of said media change request.

14. A storage medium that stores a program to be read and executed by a computer, wherein:

said program makes following steps be carried out by a multimedia call distribution device used in a multimedia call distribution system comprising a plurality of call connection devices that connect calls of respective types of media different from one another, and a plurality of terminal devices that can perform communication by calls of plural, different types of media;

namely, the steps of;

receiving an inquiry about a terminal device to which a call is to be connected, when each of said call connection devices receives a connection request for the call and issues said inquiry; and

with respect to each terminal device,

monitoring communication conditions of said terminal device about respective media types,

selecting one of terminal devices that can at least perform real-time communication, as the terminal device to which said call, connection device is to connect the call, when a type of media of the call to be connected by said call connection device is a type of media that perform at least real-time communication, and

informing the call connection device that has issued said inquiry of said selected terminal device as a response to said inquiry.

15. The storage medium that stores a program to be read and executed by a computer, according to claim 14, wherein:

said program makes the multimedia call distribution device carry out a step of;

requesting said call connection device to make a media change request to a source that has sent the connection request of the call for which the inquiry has issued, for sending a call of a different media type, when no terminal device can be selected since there does not exist a terminal device that can perform real-time communication.

16. A storage medium that stores a program to be read and executed by a computer, wherein:

said program makes following steps be carried out by a call connection device used in a multimedia call distribution System in which a multimedia call distribution device distributes calls of respective types of media different from one another into a plurality of terminal devices that can perform communication by calls of plural different types of media;

namely, the steps of;

issuing an inquiry about a terminal device to which a call is to be connected when a connection request for the call is received; and

making the call be connected by the terminal devices informed as a response to said inquiry, by said multimedia call distribution device.

17. The storage medium that stores a program to be read and executed by a computer, according to claim 16, wherein:

said program makes said call connection device carry out the steps of;

sending received contents of communication to a terminal device by a call of a different type of media different from a type of media of the call for which the inquiry has been issued; and

connecting to the call for which said inquiry has issued, to receive contents of communication by said call, when no terminal device can be selected since there does not exist a terminal device that can at least perform real-time communication, with respect to said call connection request.

18. The storage medium that stores a program to be read and executed by a computer, according to claim 16, wherein:

said program makes said call connection device carry out the steps of;

making a media change request to a. source that has sent the call connection request for which the inquiry has issued for sending a call of a different type of media, when no terminal device can be selected since there does not exist a terminal device that can at least perform real-time communication; and

requesting another call connection device that can communicate through said different type of media, to process the media change request, accompanying said media change request.