Relay device, system switching method, and program

Abstract

To provide a relay device with a redundantly configuration that detects specific noise in voice communication between telephone terminals and switches between an active system and a standby system for each functional unit.SOLUTION: A relay device relays transmission and reception of voice data between a telephone terminal connected to an IP network and a telephone terminal connected to a public switched telephone network. The relay device includes first and second IP interface units, one of which is set as an active system and the other as a standby system, first and second TDM processing units, one of which is set as the active system and the other as the standby system, first and second VoIP processing units, one of which is set as the active system and connected between the IP interface unit of the active system and the TDM processing unit of the active system, and the other is set as the standby system, and a switching control unit that detects occurrence of specific noise in the voice data and switches between the active system and the standby system for each of the first and second IP interface units, the first and second TDM processing units, and the first and second VoIP processing units.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a relay device that relays audio between communication terminals. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to improve the reliability of communication networks, communication systems are being made redundant. For example, in communication systems such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) that performs voice communication via an IP (Internet Protocol) network, a configuration is known in which a relay device that relays voice communication is provided with an active interface unit and a standby interface unit. In such a relay device, when a failure occurs in the active interface unit, the connection is switched from the active interface unit to the standby interface unit.

[0003] In such a communication system, if a failure occurs in the interface section, noise (hereinafter referred to as voice noise) may occur during a call. In order to quickly switch between the active system and the standby system when voice noise occurs, a relay device has been proposed in which an end user issues a push-on notification when the end user detects voice noise during a call, and a controller that controls the communication system switches between the active system and the standby system in response to the push-on notification from the user (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-107960 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the relay device of the above-mentioned prior art, since the switching is performed based on a push-on notification from an end user, it is not possible to identify the location that caused the voice noise, i.e., the functional unit in which the failure that caused the voice noise has occurred. Therefore, it is necessary to switch the entire media gateway unit of the active system and the media gateway unit of the standby system, and there is a problem that it is not possible to switch each functional unit individually.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a redundantly configured relay device that is capable of switching between an active system and a standby system for each functional unit when audio noise is detected in voice communication between telephone terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The relay device according to the present invention is connected to an IP network and a public switched telephone network, and relays transmission and reception of voice data between a telephone terminal connected to the IP network and a telephone terminal connected to the public switched telephone network, comprising a first IP interface unit and a second IP interface unit each of which is a termination device connected to the IP network, one of which is set to an active system and the other to a standby system, a first TDM processing unit and a second TDM processing unit each of which is a termination device connected to the public switched telephone network, one of which is set to an active system and the other to a standby system, and a relay device for relaying voice communication in the IP network and voice communication in the public switched telephone network. The present invention is characterized in that the present invention has a conversion unit that performs codec conversion of voice data in voice communication, one of which is set to an operational system connected between an operational IP interface unit of the first and second IP interface units and an operational TDM processing unit of the first and second TDM processing units, and a first VoIP processing unit and a second VoIP processing unit, one of which is set to a standby system; and a switching control unit that detects the occurrence of a specific noise in the voice data and switches between the operational system and the standby system for each of the first and second IP interface units, the first and second TDM processing units, and the first and second VoIP processing units based on the specific noise.

[0008] The system switching method according to the present invention includes a first IP interface unit and a second IP interface unit, each of which is connected to an IP network and a public switched telephone network, and each of which is a termination device connected to the IP network, one of which is set to an active system and the other of which is set to a standby system; a first TDM processing unit and a second TDM processing unit, each of which is connected to the public switched telephone network, one of which is set to an active system and the other of which is set to a standby system; and a conversion unit, each of which performs codec conversion of voice data in voice communication in the IP network and in voice communication in the public switched telephone network, one of which is a conversion unit for converting codecs of the active IP interface unit and the second IP interface unit. A system switching method is executed by a relay device which has a first VoIP processing unit and a second VoIP processing unit, one of which is set to an active system and connected between the active TDM processing unit of the first and second TDM processing units and the other is set to a standby system, and which relays transmission and reception of voice data between a telephone terminal connected to the IP network and a telephone terminal connected to a public switched telephone network, and is characterized in that the method includes a step of detecting the occurrence of a specific noise in the voice data, and a step of switching between the active system and the standby system for each of the first and second IP interface units, the first and second TDM processing units, and the first and second VoIP processing units based on the specific noise.

[0009] The program according to the present invention comprises a computer mounted on a relay device connected to an IP network and a public switched telephone network, relaying transmission and reception of voice data between a telephone terminal connected to the IP network and a telephone terminal connected to the public switched telephone network, the computer comprising: a first IP interface unit and a second IP interface unit each of which is a termination device connected to the IP network, one of which is set to an active system and the other to a standby system; a first TDM processing unit and a second TDM processing unit each of which is a termination device connected to the public switched telephone network, one of which is set to an active system and the other to a standby system; a conversion unit which performs codec conversion of voice data in voice communication in a telephone network, one of which is set to an active system connected between an active IP interface unit of the first and second IP interface units and an active TDM processing unit of the first and second TDM processing units, and the other of which is set to a standby system; and a switching control unit which detects occurrence of a specific noise in the voice data and switches between the active system and the standby system for each of the first and second IP interface units, the first and second TDM processing units, and the first and second VoIP processing units based on the specific noise. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, when audio noise is detected in audio communication between telephone terminals, it becomes possible to switch between an active system and a standby system for each functional unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system including a media gateway device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between a noise pattern and a source location of the noise; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a speech path of a voice communication and acquisition of voice data by a voice monitor unit. [Figure 4] 13 is a flowchart showing a processing routine of noise detection and system switching processing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of each embodiment and the accompanying drawings, substantially the same or equivalent parts are designated by the same reference numerals. EXAMPLES

[0013] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication system according to this embodiment. The communication system according to this embodiment includes a media gateway device 100 as a relay device that relays voice communication via an IP (Internet Protocol) network and a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Networks) line (or a GSTN (General Switched Telephone Network) line), which is a public switched telephone network. Note that a plurality of telephone terminals are connected to the IP network, one of which is shown as telephone terminal T1 in Fig. 1. Similarly, a plurality of telephone terminals are connected to the PSTN line, one of which is shown as telephone terminal T2 in Fig. 1.

[0014] The media gateway device 100 is connected to a PSTN line. The media gateway device 100 is also connected to an IP network via a switching hub SH. The switching hub SH is a switching-type hub such as an Ethernet (registered trademark) switch, and when voice data is simultaneously transmitted from a plurality of telephone terminals (not shown) connected to the IP network, for example, the switching hub SH reads the destination MAC address in the transmitted packet to allocate the destination of the voice data.

[0015] The media gateway device 100 includes a switching control unit 10, a media gateway unit 12, and a TDM interface unit 14. These functional blocks are realized, for example, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) provided in the media gateway device 100 executing a predetermined program.

[0016] The switching control unit 10 is made up of a controller unit 11 and an audio monitor unit 13 .

[0017] The controller unit 11 is a control unit that controls each unit of the media gateway device 100. The controller unit 11 switches between the active system and the standby system of each functional unit in the media gateway unit 12, switches the selector of the TDM interface unit 14, and sets each of the other functional units.

[0018] The media gateway unit 12 is a voice processing unit that executes voice processing for relaying transmission and reception of voice signals between telephone terminals. The media gateway unit 12 converts between a digital voice signal (hereinafter simply referred to as voice data) transmitted from a telephone terminal T1 connected to an IP network and a voice signal from a telephone terminal T2 connected to the PSTN.

[0019] The media gateway unit 12 includes a first IP interface unit 21 , a first VoIP processing unit 22 , a first TDM processing unit 23 , a second IP interface unit 31 , a second VoIP processing unit 32 and a second TDM processing unit 33 .

[0020] The first IP interface unit 21 is a termination device that terminates an IP network. The first IP interface unit 21 is connected to the IP network via a switching hub SH. The second IP interface unit 31 is also a termination device that terminates an IP network like the first IP interface unit 21, and is connected to the IP network via a switching hub SH.

[0021] One of the first IP interface unit 21 and the second IP interface unit 31 is set as an active IP interface unit, and the other is set as a standby IP interface unit. In Fig. 1, a case where the first IP interface unit 21 is set as the active system and the second IP interface unit 31 is set as the standby system is shown as an example.

[0022] In response to switching between the active system and the standby system, the first IP interface unit 21 is selectively connected to one of the first VoIP processing unit 22 and the second VoIP processing unit 32. At that time, the second IP interface unit 31 is selectively connected to the other of the first VoIP processing unit 22 and the second VoIP processing unit 32. For example, when the first IP interface unit 21 is connected to the first VoIP processing unit 22, the second IP interface unit 31 is connected to the second VoIP processing unit 32. When the first IP interface unit 21 is connected to the second VoIP processing unit 32, the second IP interface unit 31 is connected to the first VoIP processing unit 22.

[0023] The first VoIP processing unit 22 has a function of performing codec conversion of voice data. For example, the first VoIP processing unit 22 performs codec conversion of RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) and TDM (Time Division Multiplexing). The second VoIP processing unit 32 also has a function of performing codec conversion of voice data like the first VoIP processing unit 22, and performs codec conversion of RTP and TDM.

[0024] The first VoIP processing unit 22 and the second VoIP processing unit 32 are set as a VoIP processing unit of an active system and a VoIP processing unit of a standby system, similarly to the first IP interface unit 21 and the second IP interface unit 31. In FIG. 1, a case where the first VoIP processing unit 22 is set as the active system and the second VoIP processing unit 32 is set as the standby system is shown as an example.

[0025] The first TDM processing unit 23 is connected to the PSTN line via the TDM interface unit 14, and performs conversion (interface conversion) to adapt the interface for terminating the PSTN line and transmitting / receiving 64 kbps voice data. The second TDM processing unit 33, like the first TDM processing unit 23, is also connected to the PSTN line via the TDM interface unit 14, and performs interface conversion for terminating the PSTN line and transmitting / receiving 64 kbps voice data.

[0026] One of the first TDM processing unit 23 and the second TDM processing unit 33 is set as a TDM processing unit of an active system, and the other is set as a TDM processing unit of a standby system. In FIG. 1, a case where the first TDM processing unit 23 is set as a TDM processing unit of an active system and the second TDM processing unit 33 is set as a TDM processing unit of a standby system is shown as an example.

[0027] Depending on switching between the active system and the standby system, the first TDM processing unit 23 is selectively connected to one of the first VoIP processing unit 22 and the second VoIP processing unit 32. At that time, the second TDM processing unit 33 is selectively connected to the other of the first VoIP processing unit 22 and the second VoIP processing unit 32. For example, when the first TDM processing unit 23 is connected to the first VoIP processing unit 22, the second TDM processing unit 33 is connected to the second VoIP processing unit 32. When the first TDM processing unit 23 is connected to the second VoIP processing unit 32, the second TDM processing unit 33 is connected to the first VoIP processing unit 22.

[0028] The voice monitor unit 13 has a function of monitoring 64 kbps voice data transmitted and received between terminals, and determining whether or not a particular noise (voice noise) is included in the voice of the call.

[0029] The voice monitor unit 13 is connected to each of the lines connecting each IP interface unit and the VoIP processing unit (i.e., each of the connection lines connecting between the first IP interface unit 21 and the first VoIP processing unit 22, between the first IP interface unit 21 and the second VoIP processing unit 32, between the second IP interface unit 31 and the first VoIP processing unit 22, and between the second IP interface unit 31 and the second VoIP processing unit 32). The voice monitor unit 13 judges whether or not a specific noise is included based on the voice data flowing between the IP interface unit set to the active system and the VoIP processing unit in the voice path of the call voice.

[0030] In this embodiment, the voice monitor unit 13 detects voice noise by comparing the voice waveform of the call voice with a predetermined waveform pattern (hereinafter referred to as a noise pattern) corresponding to a specific noise and judging whether the two match based on the comparison result. A plurality of noise patterns are provided for each unique noise that may occur in each functional unit. The voice monitor unit 13 can determine which functional unit is causing the noise (i.e., which functional unit is causing the noise due to a failure) by judging which of the plurality of noise patterns the voice waveform matches.

[0031] 2 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between noise patterns and the source of the noise. Here, a case is shown in which a plurality of waveform patterns of noise caused by a malfunction (failure, etc.) in the IP interface unit are grouped as pattern A, a plurality of waveform patterns of noise caused by the VoIP processing unit are grouped as pattern B, and a plurality of waveform patterns of noise caused by the TDM processing unit are grouped as pattern C. For example, when the voice waveform of the monitored voice data matches any of the waveform patterns included in group A, the voice monitor unit 13 identifies the IP interface unit currently set as the active system out of the first IP interface unit 21 and the second IP interface unit 31 as the source of the noise.

[0032] 1 again, when the audio monitor unit 13 identifies the occurrence of noise and the functional unit causing the noise, it notifies the controller unit 11. The controller unit 11 switches between the active system and the standby system (hereinafter referred to as system switching) for the identified functional unit. For example, in a state where the first VoIP processing unit 22 is set as the VoIP processing unit of the active system, if the audio monitor unit 13 detects the occurrence of a specific noise and identifies the cause as the VoIP processing unit, the controller unit 11 switches the system of the VoIP processing unit and sets the second VoIP processing unit 32 as the VoIP processing unit of the active system.

[0033] The TDM interface unit 14 is connected between the media gateway unit 12 and the PSTN line. The TDM interface unit 14 includes a selector 41 and an interface unit 42.

[0034] The selector 41 switches the connection destination of the TDM interface unit 14 to either the first TDM processing unit 23 or the second TDM processing unit 33 under the control of the controller unit 11. The interface unit 42 is connected to a PSTN line and performs physical interface conversion such as between electricity and light.

[0035] 3 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a speech path of a voice communication and acquisition of voice data by the voice monitor unit 13. Here, a case is shown as an example in which the first IP interface unit 21 is set as an IP interface unit of an operational system, the first VoIP processing unit 22 is set as a VoIP processing unit of an operational system, and the first TDM processing unit 23 is set as a TDM processing unit of an operational system.

[0036] As shown by the thick solid line in the figure, a call path is established between telephone terminal T1 and telephone terminal T2, passing through the first IP interface unit 21, the first VoIP processing unit 22, and the first TDM processing unit 23, which are the operational systems, and a call can be made between the terminals.

[0037] The voice from telephone terminal T1 is supplied to the media gateway device 100 via the IP network and switching hub SH. Inside the media gateway device 100, the voice passes through the first IP interface unit 21, the first VoIP processing unit 22, and the first TDM processing unit 23, which are the operational system, and then reaches telephone terminal T2 via the selector 41 and interface unit 42 of the TDM interface unit 14 and the PSTN line. The voice from telephone terminal T2 also follows the reverse route to reach telephone terminal T1.

[0038] As shown by the thick dashed line in the figure, the audio monitor unit 13 monitors the audio data flowing between the first IP interface unit 21 and the first VoIP processing unit 22, for example the audio data flowing from the first VoIP processing unit 22 to the first IP interface unit 21, determines the presence or absence of audio noise, and identifies the cause of the noise.

[0039] Next, a processing routine for noise detection and system switching processing executed by the communication system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 4. Note that, here, the case where the first IP interface unit 21, the first VoIP processing unit 22, and the first TDM processing unit 23 are set to the active system as shown in Fig. 3 will be described as an example.

[0040] The voice monitor unit 13 monitors the voice data flowing from the first VoIP processing unit 22 to the first IP interface unit 21 (STEP 101).

[0041] The voice monitor unit 13 judges whether or not the voice waveform of the monitored voice data matches any of the noise patterns (noise waveform patterns) corresponding to specific noises (STEP 102).

[0042] If it is determined that there is no match (STEP 102: NO), the process returns to STEP 101, and the voice monitor unit 13 continues to monitor the voice data.

[0043] When it is determined that the audio waveform matches a noise pattern (STEP 102: YES), the audio monitor unit 13 identifies the functional unit that is the source of the noise generation based on which of a plurality of noise patterns the audio waveform matches (STEP 103).

[0044] The audio monitor unit 13 notifies the controller unit 11 of information about the functional unit identified as the source of the noise (STEP 104).

[0045] The controller unit 11 sends a trap notification to a server device (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) managed by a maintenance person. The controller unit 11 also switches the system for the functional unit that has been notified as the source of the noise (STEP 105).

[0046] As described above, the media gateway device 100 of the present embodiment detects the voice noise contained in the voice data from the telephone terminal T1 or T2, identifies the functional unit that is the cause of the noise, and switches between the active system and the standby system. With this configuration, it becomes possible to switch between the active system and the standby system for each functional unit, such as the IP interface unit and the VoIP processing unit.

[0047] The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to those described in the above examples. For example, in the above examples, the voice monitor unit 13 monitors the voice data of the call voice flowing between the VoIP processing unit (the first VoIP processing unit 22 or the second VoIP processing unit 32) and the IP interface unit (the first IP interface unit 21 or the second IP interface unit 31). However, the voice data monitored by the voice monitor unit 13 is not limited to the voice data of the relevant location, and may be, for example, the voice data of the call voice flowing between the TDM processing unit (the first TDM processing unit 23 or the second TDM processing unit 33) and the VoIP processing unit (the first VoIP processing unit 22 or the second VoIP processing unit 32).

[0048] In the above embodiment, the controller unit 11 switches the system for each functional unit in response to a notification from the audio monitor unit 13. However, the controller unit 11 may be configured to switch the system upon receiving a switching instruction from the maintenance server to switch the system after sending a trap notification to a server device (maintenance server) managed by a maintenance person.

[0049] In the above embodiments, the telephone terminal T1 is connected to an IP network, and the telephone terminal T2 is connected to a PSTN line. However, the connection form of each telephone terminal to the communication network is not limited to this. For example, both telephone terminals T1 and T2 may be connected to an IP network. Also, both telephone terminals T1 and T2 may be connected to a PSTN line. In these cases, instead of the media gateway device 100 in each of the above embodiments, a relay device that relays the transmission and reception of voice signals between telephone terminals may have the same functions of detecting tone signals and switching systems based on the detection.

[0050] In addition, in the above description of the processing routine for noise detection and system switching, the detection of noise occurrence (STEP 102) and the identification of the cause (STEP 103) are described as separate steps for convenience of explanation, but in reality, these may be performed simultaneously. That is, the audio monitor unit 13 can simultaneously detect the occurrence of noise and identify its cause by determining whether or not the audio waveform matches any of the waveform patterns included in the noise pattern group. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 100 Media Gateway Device 11 Controller section 12 Media Gateway Section 13 Audio monitor section 14 TDM Interface Section 21 First IP interface section 22 First VoIP processing unit 23 First TDM Processing Section 31 Second IP interface section 32 Second VoIP processing unit 33 3rd TDM Processing Section 41 Selector 42 Interface section SH Switching Hub T1 Telephone Terminal T2 Telephone Terminal

Claims

1. A relay device connected to an IP network and a public switched telephone network, for relaying transmission and reception of voice data between a telephone terminal connected to the IP network and a telephone terminal connected to the public switched telephone network, comprising: a first IP interface unit and a second IP interface unit, each of which is a termination device connected to the IP network, one of which is set as an active system and the other of which is set as a standby system; a first TDM processing unit and a second TDM processing unit, each of which is a terminating device connected to the public switched telephone network, one of which is set to an active system and the other to a standby system; a first VoIP processing unit and a second VoIP processing unit, each of which is a conversion unit that performs codec conversion of voice data in voice communication in the IP network and voice communication in the public switched telephone network, one of which is set to an active system connected between an active IP interface unit of the first and second IP interface units and an active TDM processing unit of the first and second TDM processing units, and the other of which is set to a standby system; a switching control unit that detects occurrence of a specific noise in the voice data and switches between an active system and a standby system based on the specific noise for each of the first and second IP interface units, the first and second TDM processing units, and the first and second VoIP processing units; A relay device comprising:

2. 2. The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the switching control unit detects the occurrence of the specific noise based on a comparison result obtained by comparing a voice waveform based on the voice data with a predetermined waveform pattern.

3. The relay device according to claim 2, characterized in that the switching control unit identifies the cause of the occurrence of the specific noise based on which of the multiple predetermined waveform patterns the audio waveform matches when the occurrence of the specific noise is detected.

4. A system switching method is executed by a relay device connected to an IP network and a public switched telephone network, the relay device having a first IP interface unit and a second IP interface unit, each of which is a termination device connected to the IP network, one of which is set to an active system and the other of which is set to a standby system, a first TDM processing unit and a second TDM processing unit, each of which is a termination device connected to the public switched telephone network, one of which is set to the active system and the other of which is set to the standby system, and a first VoIP processing unit and a second VoIP processing unit, each of which performs codec conversion of voice data in voice communication in the IP network and in voice communication in the public switched telephone network, one of which is set to the active system and connected between the active system IP interface unit of the first and second IP interface units and the active system TDM processing unit of the first and second TDM processing units, and the other of which is set to the standby system, the relay device relaying transmission and reception of voice data between a telephone terminal connected to the IP network and a telephone terminal connected to the public switched telephone network, the method comprising: detecting an occurrence of a specific noise in the audio data; switching between an active system and a standby system for each of the first and second IP interface units, the first and second TDM processing units, and the first and second VoIP processing units based on the specific noise; A system switching method comprising:

5. A computer installed in a relay device connected to an IP network and a public switched telephone network, the relay device relaying transmission and reception of voice data between a telephone terminal connected to the IP network and a telephone terminal connected to the public switched telephone network, a first IP interface unit and a second IP interface unit, each of which is a termination device connected to the IP network, one of which is set as an active system and the other of which is set as a standby system; a first TDM processing unit and a second TDM processing unit, each of which is a terminating device connected to the public switched telephone network, one of which is set to an active system and the other to a standby system; a first VoIP processing unit and a second VoIP processing unit, each of which is a conversion unit that performs codec conversion of voice data in voice communication in the IP network and voice communication in the public switched telephone network, one of which is set to an active system connected between an active IP interface unit of the first and second IP interface units and an active TDM processing unit of the first and second TDM processing units, and the other of which is set to a standby system; a switching control unit that detects occurrence of a specific noise in the voice data and switches between an active system and a standby system based on the specific noise for each of the first and second IP interface units, the first and second TDM processing units, and the first and second VoIP processing units; A program characterized by causing a computer to function as described above.

Images