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

• US 7,675,906 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Higuchi, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Chirag G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reddivalam, Srinivasa R
• Application Number:
  US11/159,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20050286501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370/467
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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. An IP packetizing unit that is connected to a first terminal via a mobile communication network and to a second terminal via an IP network, and that acts as a part of the first terminal, said IP packetizing unit comprising:

means for receiving, from the first terminal, a control signal that includes an IP address and port number of the second terminal, and sending a control signal including an IP address and port number of the IP packetizing unit to the first terminal, the IP address and port number of the IP packetizing unit being notified to the second terminal by the first terminal;

means for receiving a media signal from the first terminal via the mobile communication network and packetizing the media signal;

means for sending a resulting packet, to which the IP address and port number of the second terminal is attached, to the second terminal via the IP network;

means for receiving a media-signal IP packet including the IP address and port number of the IP packetizing unit as a destination from the IP network; and

means for converting the media-signal IP packet received from the IP network to a resulting media signal and sending the resulting media signal to the first terminal unconditionally.

2. A method of an IP packetizing unit that is connected to a first terminal via a mobile communication network and to a second terminal via an IP network, and that acts as a part of the first terminal, said method comprising:

receiving, from the first terminal, a control signal that includes an IP address and port number of the second terminal, and sending a control signal including an IP address and port number of the IP packetizing unit to the first terminal, the IP address and port number of the IP packetizing unit being notified to the second terminal by the first terminal;

receiving a media signal from the first terminal via the mobile communication network and packetizing the media signal;

sending a resulting packet, to which the IP address and port number of the second terminal is attached, to the second terminal via the IP network;

receiving a media-signal IP packet including the IP address and port number of the IP packetizing unit as a destination from the IP network; and

converting the media-signal IP packet received from the IP network to a resulting media signal and sending the resulting media signal to the first terminal unconditionally.