Determination Method, Determination Device, and Computer Program

Abstract

To enable determination as to whether a telephone number to be investigated is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract. 【Solution means】 A transmission step of transmitting, to the first IP network, transmission information indicating that a call is to be made to a telephone number to be investigated, the transmission information being response information including an error message that is responded from a first IP network using an optical line as an access line or a second IP network that is connected to the first IP network and is operated by a communication line carrier different from the first IP network; and a determination step of determining, based on the response information received from the first IP network, whether the telephone number is a telephone number that is valid by having a subscription contract in the second IP network or a telephone number that is invalid by not having a subscription contract in the second IP network. A determination method having these steps.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a determination method, a determination device, and a computer program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technique for determining the validity of a telephone line to which a telephone number is assigned has been used. For example, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, first, an INVITE message is sent to the SIP server of a telecommunications carrier. At this time, an irregular attribute name is described in the codec specification item in the SDP description in the INVITE message. Then, based on the response message sent from the SIP server, it is determined whether the IP telephone number under investigation is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, with the change in the network configuration of telecommunications carriers, there are cases where it becomes impossible to correctly determine using the conventional method. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a technique that enables determination of whether a telephone number under investigation is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract by a method different from the conventional method.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is transmission information indicating an outgoing call to a telephone number to be investigated, the transmission information being transmitted to a first IP network in which an optical line is used as an access line or a second IP network connected to the first IP network and operated by a different telecommunications carrier from the first IP network, and the response information including an error message is responded. The method includes a transmission step of transmitting the transmission information to the first IP network, and a determination step of determining, based on the response information received from the first IP network, whether the telephone number is a valid telephone number by subscribing to the second IP network or an invalid telephone number without a subscription to the second IP network.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is the above determination method, wherein in the determination step, the determination is further based on the time required from transmitting the transmission information until the response information is received.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is the above determination method, wherein in the determination step, when the time is longer than a predetermined time, it is determined that the telephone number is a valid telephone number, and when the time is shorter than the predetermined time, it is determined that the telephone number is an invalid telephone number.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a determination device including a communication control unit that transmits transmission information indicating an outgoing call to a telephone number to be investigated, the transmission information being transmitted to a first IP network in which an optical line is used as an access line or a second IP network connected to the first IP network and operated by a different telecommunications carrier from the first IP network, and the response information including an error message is responded, and a determination unit that determines, based on the response information received from the first IP network, whether the telephone number is a valid telephone number by subscribing to the second IP network or an invalid telephone number without a subscription to the second IP network.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is transmission information indicating an outgoing call to a telephone number to be investigated, and a first IP network using an optical line as an access line or a second IP network connected to the first IP network and operated by a different telecommunications carrier from the first IP network. A communication control unit that transmits the transmission information to the first IP network, which responds with response information including an error message, and based on the response information received from the first IP network, whether the telephone number is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract in the second IP network, or Whether it is a telephone number that has not been subscribed to in the second IP network and is invalid. A determination device including a determination unit for determining, and a computer program for causing a computer to function as the determination device.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to determine whether an investigation target telephone number is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract by a method different from the conventional method.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] [First Embodiment] The first embodiment of the determination device of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a connection example of the determination device 50 of the present invention. The determination device 50 is a device that determines whether a telephone number to be investigated (investigation target telephone number) is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract. The determination device 50 is connected to the first IP network 10, and a valid telephone number with a subscription contract is assigned in the first IP network 10. In the following description, as an example, the case where the investigation target telephone number is originally a telephone number used in the first IP network 10 will be described as a specific example. In other words, when the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan assigns non-overlapping telephone number ranges to a plurality of telecommunications carriers, respectively, as available telephone numbers for each telecommunications carrier, the case where the telephone number assigned to the telecommunications carrier of the first IP network 10 is the investigation target telephone number will be described as an example. Note that, due to mechanisms such as fixed telephone number portability, even if the telephone number is assigned to the telecommunications carrier of the first IP network 10 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, a situation may occur where the telephone number is under the management of the network (second IP network 30) of another telecommunications carrier and becomes valid. Also, the specific example where the above-described investigation target telephone number is a telephone number used in the first IP network 10 is just an example, and a telephone number that should be used in the PSTN network 20 or the second IP network 30 may be used as the investigation target telephone number.

[0013] The first IP network 10 is a network that provides an IP phone service to subscribers. In the first IP network 10, an optical line may be used as the access line. The first IP network 10 may be configured using, for example, IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem). The first IP network 10 is connected to the PSTN network (Public Switched Telephone Network) 20 via the first gateway 12. The PSTN network 20 is a network managed by a specific entity (for example, a company in the NTT (registered trademark) group) and is a fixed-line telephone network (public switched telephone network) to which an ISDN dedicated terminal or an analog subscriber line terminal is connected. The first gateway 12 may be configured using, for example, a media gateway (MG). The first IP network 10 is also connected to the second IP network 30 via the second gateway 13. The second IP network 30 is a network that provides an IP phone service to subscribers. The first IP network 10 and the PSTN network 20 may each be operated by the same communication line operator or by different communication line operators (communication carriers). The second IP network 30 is a network operated by a communication line operator different from the first IP network 10. The second gateway 13 may be configured using, for example, a gateway router (GWR). More specifically, the first IP network 10 and the second IP network 30 may be connected via the second gateway 13 and the IP-POI.

[0014] A plurality of second IP networks 30 may be provided. In this case, the plurality of second IP networks 30 may each be operated by different communication line operators or by the same communication line operator. For example, a second IP network 30 operated by communication line operator A, a second IP network 30 operated by communication line operator B, and a second IP network 30 operated by communication line operator B may each be connected to the second gateway 13. In other words, any callable IP network that is operated by a communication line operator different from the first IP network 10 and is connected to the first IP network 10 may be included in the second IP network 30.

[0015] Connected to the first IP network 10, the PSTN network 20, and the second IP network 30 are the communication devices 40 (40_1 to 40_3) of the users who have signed up for each network. Each user's communication device 40 is assigned a telephone number allocated by the telecommunications carrier when the user signs up for the service. By using this telephone number, the user to whom the telephone number is assigned can connect to the network via the access line for which the user has signed up. Also, by making an outgoing call from another communication device 40 to this telephone number, it becomes possible to communicate with the communication device 40 of the user to whom the telephone number is assigned.

[0016] The first IP network 10 is provided with a voice communication control device 11, a first gateway 12, and a second gateway 13. The voice communication control device 11 is configured using an information processing device capable of communication. The voice communication control device 11 performs at least communication control processing for realizing voice calls between the communication devices 40. The voice communication control device 11 may be configured using a SIP server that performs processing according to the protocol of voice calls (for example, SIP: Session Initiation Protocol). In the following description, the case where the voice communication control device 11 is configured as a SIP server will be described as an example. The first gateway 12 is an information processing device capable of communication that relays communication between the first IP network 10 and the PSTN network 20. As described above, the first gateway 12 may be configured using, for example, a conversion device (MG). The second gateway 13 is an information processing device capable of communication that relays communication between the first IP network 10 and the second IP network 30. As described above, the second gateway 13 may be configured using, for example, a relay device (GWR).

[0017] The determination device 50 is a device that is connected to the first IP network 10 and determines the contract status of the telephone number under investigation by making a call to the telephone number under investigation. Specifically, the determination device 50 transmits a call signal for the telephone number under investigation to the first IP network 10, receives the response signal from the first IP network 10, and determines the contract status based on the received response signal. The determination device 50 may be connected to the first IP network 10 via a device such as a GW device, an optical network unit (ONU), or an optical line terminal (OLT). FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of the determination device 50. The determination device 50 is configured using an information device such as a personal computer, a tablet, or a dedicated device. The determination device 50 includes a communication unit 51, an input unit 52, an output unit 53, a storage unit 54, and a control unit 55.

[0018] The communication unit 51 is a communication device. The communication unit 51 may be configured as, for example, a network interface. The communication unit 51 performs data communication with other devices via a communication path according to the control of the control unit 55. The communication unit 51 may be a device that performs wireless communication or a device that performs wired communication. The communication unit 51 may be a communication interface for connecting to other devices so as to enable data communication. For example, the communication unit 51 may acquire data from a storage device (hard disk device or semiconductor storage device) connected to its own device or a device that reads data from a recording medium (CD-ROM drive, DVD drive, etc.), or may output data (for example, a determination result) to these devices.

[0019] The input unit 52 is configured using existing input devices such as a keyboard, a pointing device (mouse, tablet, etc.), buttons, and a touch panel. The input unit 52 is operated by the user when inputting the user's instruction to the determination device 50. The input unit 52 may be an interface for connecting the input device to the determination device 50. In this case, the input unit 52 inputs an input signal generated in response to the user's input in the input device to the determination device 50. The input unit 52 may be configured using a microphone and a voice recognition device. In this case, the input unit 52 acquires an acoustic signal generated by the user's speech, performs voice recognition on the words spoken by the user, and inputs the character string information of the recognition result to the determination device 50. The voice recognition process may be executed by the control unit 55. The input unit 52 may be configured in any manner as long as it can input the user's instruction to the determination device 50. The input unit 52 may be used, for example, when inputting a telephone number to be investigated to the determination device 50.

[0020] The output unit 53 outputs information in a form recognizable by the user. The output unit 53 may be, for example, an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. The output unit 53 may be an interface for connecting the image display device to the determination device 50. In this case, the output unit 53 generates a video signal for displaying the image data and outputs the video signal to the image display device connected to itself. The output unit 53 may be a device that outputs sound such as a speaker. The output unit 53 may be an interface for connecting an acoustic output device such as a speaker or headphones to the determination device 50. In this case, the output unit 53 generates an acoustic signal for reproducing the acoustic data and outputs the acoustic signal to the acoustic output device connected to itself. Note that the output unit 53 may be configured as a touch panel integrated with the input unit 52. The output unit 53 may be used, for example, when outputting the determination result of a specific telephone number to be investigated.

[0021] The storage unit 54 is configured using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk drive or a semiconductor memory device. The storage unit 54 stores data used by the control unit 55. The storage unit 54 stores data required when the control unit 55 performs processing. The storage unit 54 functions as, for example, a determination result storage unit 541.

[0022] The determination result storage unit 541 stores information indicating the determination result of each telephone number to be investigated in the control unit 55. The determination result storage unit 541 stores, for example, a determination result indicating which of the following four states each telephone number to be investigated is in. · A state of having a subscription contract in the first IP network 10 · A state of having a subscription contract in the PSTN network 20 · A state of having a subscription contract in the second IP network 30 · A state of having no subscription contract in any communication network

[0023] The control unit 55 is configured using a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory (main storage device). The control unit 55 functions as a communication control unit 551 and a determination unit 552 when the processor executes a program. Note that all or part of each function of the control unit 55 may be realized using hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The above program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. A computer-readable recording medium is, for example, a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, a semiconductor memory device (e.g., SSD: Solid State Drive), or a storage device such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory device built into a computer system. The above program may be transmitted via a telecommunication line.

[0024] The control unit 55 may execute, for example, an application installed in the own device (the determination device 50). The control unit 55 operates according to the program of the application being executed.

[0025] The communication control unit 551 communicates with at least the devices on the first IP network 10 using the protocol for voice calls. In the present embodiment, the communication control unit 551 is configured to be able to communicate with at least the communication devices (such as the voice communication control device 11, the first gateway 12, and the second gateway 13, etc.) within the first IP network 10 according to the SIP communication protocol. The communication control unit 551 transmits transmission information (call signal), which is information indicating a call to be made to the telephone number under investigation. For example, the transmission of the transmission information may be realized as a call processing. However, the communication control unit 551 transmits transmission information such that response information including an error message is transmitted from communication devices such as the voice communication control device 11 (SIP server), the first gateway 12, and the second gateway 13. Specifically, it does not matter which device generates and transmits the response information including the error message. At least, it is sufficient that the response information including the error message is generated and transmitted by any device as a response to the transmission information.

[0026] Such transmission information may be defined as information with settings that prevent normal calls, for example. Settings that prevent normal calls may include, for example, settings that do not allow voice transmission and reception, settings that allow voice reception but not transmission, or settings that allow voice transmission but not reception. Also, settings that prevent normal calls may involve the setting of characters or values that are not recognized for use in the original regulations or conventions as parameters or arguments. The communication control unit 551 may generate and transmit, as transmission information, an INVITE signal with settings that prevent normal calls as described above in the INVITE signal among the signals transmitted to, for example, the voice communication control device 11, the first gateway 12, and the second gateway 13. There are multiple modes for the transmission process performed by the communication control unit 551 for the investigation of the phone number under investigation.

[0027] First, the first transmission mode will be described. In the first transmission mode, it is determined whether the phone number under investigation is a valid phone number at least in the first IP network 10. In the first transmission mode, the communication control unit 551 transmits the first transmission information. The first transmission information may be set as follows, for example. · Specify AVPF (Extended RTP Profile) · Specify the recvonly attribute · Specify PCMU-WB for the voice codec Among these, for example, only the specification of AVPF may be performed.

[0028] More specifically, the SDP may be described as follows. v=0 o=- 1701059395 1701059396 IN IP4 192.168.47.119 s=- c=IN IP4 192.168.47.119 t=0 0 m=audio 5004 RTP / AVPF 0 a=rtpmap:0 PCMU-WB / 16000 a = recvonly

[0029] Next, the second transmission mode will be described. In the second transmission mode, it is determined whether the telephone number to be investigated is at least a valid telephone number in the PSTN network 20. In the second transmission mode, the communication control unit 551 transmits the second transmission information. The second transmission information passes through the voice communication control device 11 without being returned with error response information and reaches at least the first gateway 12 or the second gateway 13. The response information for the second transmission information is generated by a device other than the voice communication control device 11. In other words, it may be generated by the first gateway 12, the second gateway 13, or a communication device beyond them (for example, a device closer to another network than the first gateway 12 and the second gateway 13 within the first IP network 10, a device in the PSTN network 20, or a device in the second IP network 30). The second transmission information may be set as follows, for example. · Specify IPv6 · Specify PCMU-WB for the voice codec Only one of the above two settings may be made, but it is desirable that both are made.

[0030] More specifically, the SDP may be described as follows. v = 0 o = - 1703127281 1703127282 IN IP6 2408:210:102:2f00:20c:29ff:feab:5 s = - c = IN IP6 2408:210:102:2f00:20c:29ff:feab:5 t = 0 0 m = audio 5004 RTP / AVP 0 a = rtpmap:0 PCMU-WB / 16000 a = sendrecv

[0031] When the communication control unit 551 transmits the first transmission information, it receives response information transmitted as a response to the first transmission information from the voice communication control device 11. When the communication control unit 551 transmits the second transmission information, it receives response information for the second transmission information from the first gateway 12 or the second gateway 13.

[0032] Based on the response information received by the communication control unit 551, the determination unit 552 executes a determination process for the investigation target telephone number in the transmission information transmitted when the response information was obtained. The determination process is a process of determining whether the investigation target telephone number is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract. The determination process may also determine which communication network the active subscription contract is in.

[0033] When the response information for the first transmission information contains first information indicating a predetermined content, the determination unit 552 determines that the investigation target telephone number is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract in the first IP network 10. When the response information for the first transmission information contains second information indicating a predetermined content, the determination unit 552 determines that the investigation target telephone number is an invalid telephone number without a subscription contract in the first IP network 10 (under the management of the first IP network 10 and an invalid telephone number). When the response information for the first transmission information contains third information indicating a predetermined content, the determination unit 552 determines that the investigation target telephone number has no subscription contract in the first IP network 10 but is a telephone number under the management of another communication network. Hereinafter, specific examples of the first information to the third information are shown.

[0034] First information: 488 (warning code: other than 302): First IP network 10 valid Second information: 404: Invalid Third information: 488 (warning code: 302): Under the management of another communication network

[0035] As described above, in the description of the present embodiment, the telephone number used in the first IP network 10 is applied as the telephone number to be investigated. Therefore, when a 404 response (second information) is obtained as the response information to the transmission information to the telephone number to be investigated, it can be determined that the telephone number is invalid in both the first IP network 10 and other communication networks.

[0036] When the determination unit 552 obtains the third information in the response information to the first transmission information, it instructs the communication control unit 551 to transmit the second transmission information. When the response information to the second transmission information includes the fourth information indicating a predetermined content, the determination unit 552 determines that the telephone number to be investigated is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract in the PSTN network 20. When the response information to the second transmission information includes the fifth information indicating a predetermined content, the determination unit 552 determines that the telephone number to be investigated is an invalid telephone number without a subscription contract in the PSTN network 20. When the response information to the second transmission information includes the sixth information indicating a predetermined content, the determination unit 552 determines that the telephone number to be investigated has no subscription contract in the first IP network 10 and the PSTN network 20, but is a telephone number under the management of another communication network (that is, the second IP network 30). When the determination unit 552 determines "under the management of another communication network" in the response information to the first transmission information and also determines "under the management of another communication network" in the response information to the second transmission information, it determines that the telephone number to be investigated is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract in the second IP network 30 (for example, a telephone number with a number portability contract). Hereinafter, specific examples of the fourth information to the sixth information will be shown.

[0037] Fourth information: 500: PSTN network 20 valid Fifth information: 404: Invalid Sixth information: 488: Under the management of another communication network

[0038] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the processing flow of the determination device 50. First, the communication control unit 551 transmits first transmission information regarding the telephone number to be investigated (step S101). After that, the communication control unit 551 receives response information (step S102). The determination unit 552 executes a determination process on the response information for the first transmission information (step S103). When the response information is not the third information (step S104 - NO), the determination unit 552 associates the determination result with the telephone number to be investigated and records it in the determination result storage unit 541 (step S105).

[0039] On the other hand, when the response information is the third information, that is, when it is determined that it is under the management of another communication network (step S104 - NO), the determination unit 552 instructs the communication control unit 551 to transmit second transmission information. In this case, the communication control unit 551 transmits the second transmission information (step S106). After that, the communication control unit 551 receives response information (step S107). The determination unit 552 executes a determination process on the response information for the second transmission information (step S108).

[0040] When the response information is not the sixth information (step S109 - NO), the determination unit 552 associates the determination result with the telephone number to be investigated and records it in the determination result storage unit 541 (step S110). On the other hand, when the response information is the sixth information, that is, when it is determined that it is under the management of another communication network (step S109 - NO), the determination unit 552 determines that the telephone number to be investigated is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract in the second IP network 30 (step S111). Then, the determination unit 552 associates the determination result with the telephone number to be investigated and records it in the determination result storage unit 541 (step S112).

[0041] FIG. 4 is a sequence chart showing a specific example of the communication flow between the determination device 50 and the device on the first IP network 10. FIG. 4 shows the processing when the telephone number to be investigated is a valid telephone number in the first IP network 10. The communication control unit 551 of the determination device 50 transmits first transmission information to the first IP network 10 (step S201). Response information for the first transmission information is transmitted from the first IP network 10 to the determination device 50 (step S202). The communication control unit 551 of the determination device 50 receives the response information from the first IP network 10 (step S203). The determination unit 552 of the determination device 50 executes a determination process on the received response information (step S204). In the case of FIG. 4, as described above, the telephone number to be investigated is a valid telephone number in the first IP network 10. Therefore, without transmitting the second transmission information, the determination result of the response information for the first transmission information is recorded in the determination result storage unit 541 and the process ends (step S205). However, it does not mean that the transmission of the second transmission information is excluded, and the second transmission information may be transmitted.

[0042] FIG. 5 is a sequence chart showing a specific example of the communication flow between the determination device 50 and the device on the first IP network 10. FIG. 5 shows the processing when the telephone number to be investigated is a valid telephone number in the second IP network 30. The processing up to steps S201 to S204 is the same as that in FIG. 4, so the description is omitted. In the case of FIG. 5, as described above, the telephone number to be investigated is a valid telephone number in the second IP network 30. Therefore, as a result of the processing in step S204, the determination unit 552 determines to transmit the second transmission information.

[0043] According to this determination result, the communication control unit 551 transmits the second transmission information to the first IP network 10 (step S301). When the voice communication control device 11 receives the second transmission information, it relays the second transmission information to a subsequent communication device within the first IP network 10. Therefore, even if the first gateway 12 and the second gateway 13 within the first IP network 10 cannot receive the first transmission information, they can receive the second transmission information. In this way, response information for the second transmission information is transmitted to the determination device 50 from communication devices other than the voice communication control device 11 within the first IP network 10 and devices of other networks (PSTN network 20 and second IP network 30) (step S302). The communication control unit 551 of the determination device 50 receives the response information (step S303). The determination unit 552 of the determination device 50 executes a determination process on the received response information (step S304). In the case of FIG. 5, as described above, the telephone number under investigation is a valid telephone number in the second IP network 30. The determination unit 552 records the determination result of the response information for the second transmission information in the determination result storage unit 541 and ends the process (step S305).

[0044] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of a hardware configuration example of an information processing device 90 applied to this embodiment. The information processing device 90 includes a processor 91, a main storage device 92, a communication interface 93, an auxiliary storage device 94, an input / output interface 95, and an internal bus 96. The processor 91, the main storage device 92, the communication interface 93, the auxiliary storage device 94, and the input / output interface 95 are communicably connected to each other via the internal bus 96. The information processing device 90 may be applied to, for example, the determination device 50. In this case, for example, the communication unit 51 may be configured using the communication interface 93. For example, the storage unit 54 may be configured using the auxiliary storage device 94. Also, the control unit 55 may be configured using the processor 91 and the main storage device 92.

[0045] The determination device 50 configured as described above can determine whether the telephone number under investigation is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract in the first IP network 10. Further, the determination device 50 can determine whether the telephone number is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract in the PSTN network 20 where a metal line is used for the access line. Further, the determination device 50 can determine whether the telephone number is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract in the second IP network 30 operated by a carrier different from the first IP network 10.

[0046] [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the determination device of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment of the determination device, the operation of the control unit 55 is mainly different from that of the first embodiment of the determination device, and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment described above. Hereinafter, only the configurations related to the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be described.

[0047] In the second embodiment, the communication control unit 551 is configured to be able to communicate with at least communication devices (such as the voice communication control device 11, the first gateway 12, and the second gateway 13, etc.) in the first IP network 10 according to the SIP communication protocol. In the second embodiment, a telephone number of a mobile phone may be used as the telephone number under investigation. The communication control unit 551 transmits transmission information (calling signal), which is information indicating a call to the telephone number under investigation. For example, the transmission of the transmission information may be realized as a calling process. However, the communication control unit 551 transmits transmission information such that response information including an error message is transmitted from a communication device in the first IP network 10. Specifically, it does not matter which device generates and transmits the response information including the error message. At least, as long as the response information including the error message is generated and transmitted by any device as a response to the transmission information.

[0048] Such transmission information may be defined as information with settings that prevent normal calls, for example. Settings that prevent normal calls may include, for example, settings that do not allow voice transmission and reception, settings that allow voice reception but not transmission, or settings that allow voice transmission but not reception. Additionally, settings that prevent normal calls may involve the setting of characters or values that are not recognized for use in the original regulations or conventions as parameters or arguments. The communication control unit 551 may generate, for example, an INVITE signal with settings that prevent normal calls as described above in the INVITE signal among the signals transmitted to the first gateway 12 and the second gateway 13, and transmit it as transmission information. There are multiple modes for the transmission process that the communication control unit 551 performs for the investigation of the target telephone number. The first transmission mode and the second transmission mode are as described in the first embodiment.

[0049] Here, the third transmission mode will be described. The communication control unit 551 in the second embodiment transmits third transmission information in the third transmission mode. The third transmission information passes through the voice communication control device 11 without receiving an error response message and reaches at least the first gateway 12 or the second gateway 13. The response information for the third transmission information is generated by a device other than the voice communication control device 11. In other words, it may be generated by the first gateway 12, the second gateway 13, or a communication device further ahead (for example, a device closer to another network than the first gateway 12 and the second gateway 13 within the first IP network 10, or a device in the second IP network 30). The third transmission information may be set as follows, for example. · Specify 96 (UEMCLIP) and 9 (PCMU) for the payload type

[0050] More specifically, the SDP may be described as follows. v=0 o=- 1707179816 1707179817 IN IP4 192.168.1.103 s=- c=IN IP4 192.168.1.103 t=0 0 m=audio 5004 RTP / AVP 96 0 a=rtpmap:96 UEMCLIP / 8000 / 1 a=rtpmap:0 PCMU / 8000 a=sendrecv

[0051] When the communication control unit 551 transmits the third transmission information, it receives response information for the third transmission information from the second gateway 13.

[0052] Based on the response information received by the communication control unit 551, the determination unit 552 executes a determination process for the investigation target telephone number in the transmission information transmitted when the response information was obtained. The determination process is a process of determining whether the investigation target telephone number is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract. The determination process may determine which communication network the active subscription contract is in.

[0053] When the seventh information indicating a predetermined content is included in the response information for the third transmission information, the determination unit 552 determines that the investigation target telephone number is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract in the second IP network 30. When the eighth information indicating a predetermined content is included in the response information for the third transmission information, the determination unit 552 determines that the investigation target telephone number is an invalid telephone number without a subscription contract in the second IP network 30. Hereinafter, specific examples of the seventh information to the eighth information are shown.

[0054] Seventh information: 180, 200: Valid for the second IP network 30 Eighth information: 404, 403 (for mobile only): Invalid for the second IP network 30

[0055] Note that different content may be used as the eighth information depending on whether the telephone number to be investigated is a mobile phone number or a fixed-line phone number as described above. For example, when the telephone number to be investigated is a fixed-line phone number, an error code of "404" may be used as the eighth information, and when the telephone number to be investigated is a mobile phone number, an error code of "403" may be used as the eighth information.

[0056] In addition, the determination unit 552 may determine whether the telephone number to be investigated is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract in the second IP network 30 based not only on the response information but also on the length of time required from the transmission of the third transmission information until the response information is received. For example, when the time is longer than a predetermined length (e.g., 1 second), it may be determined that the telephone number to be investigated is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract in the second IP network 30. For example, when the time is shorter than a predetermined length (e.g., 1 second), it may be determined that the telephone number to be investigated is an invalid telephone number without a subscription contract in the second IP network 30. Such a determination may be used, for example, when the telephone number to be investigated is a mobile phone number. In such a process, the communication control unit 551 may perform a process of cutting off the outgoing call (e.g., transmitting CANCEL) at the time when the predetermined length has elapsed. By being configured in this way, it is possible to prevent incoming calls to the communication device 40 corresponding to the telephone number to be investigated.

[0057] The determination unit 552 makes a determination based on both the length of time and the content of the received response information (whether it is the seventh information or the eighth information) as described above. For example, when the content of the received response information is the seventh information and the time is longer than a predetermined length (e.g., 1 second), it may be determined that the telephone number to be investigated is a valid telephone number with a subscription contract in the second IP network 30. For example, when the content of the received response information is the eighth information and the time is shorter than a predetermined length (e.g., 1 second), it may be determined that the telephone number to be investigated is an invalid telephone number without a subscription contract in the second IP network 30.

[0058] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the processing flow of the determination device 50 in the second embodiment. First, the communication control unit 551 transmits third transmission information to the first IP network 10 regarding the telephone number to be investigated (step S401). After that, the communication control unit 551 receives response information from the first IP network 10 (step S402). The determination unit 552 executes a determination process on the response information for the third transmission information (step S403). The determination unit 552 records the determination result in association with the telephone number to be investigated in the determination result storage unit 541 (step S404).

[0059] FIG. 8 is a sequence chart showing a specific example of the communication flow between the determination device 50 and the device of the first IP network 10 in the second embodiment. The communication control unit 551 of the determination device 50 transmits third transmission information to the first IP network 10 (step S501). Response information for the third transmission information is transmitted from the first IP network 10 to the determination device 50 (step S502). The communication control unit 551 of the determination device 50 receives the response information from the first IP network 10 (step S503). The determination unit 552 of the determination device 50 executes a determination process on the received response information (step S504). The determination unit 552 records the determination result of the response information for the third transmission information in the determination result storage unit 541 and the process ends (step S505).

[0060] (Modification example) The determination device 50 may be implemented using a plurality of information processing devices. For example, the determination device 50 may be implemented using a device such as a cloud. For example, in the determination device 50, the storage unit 54 and the control unit 55 may be implemented in different information processing devices respectively. For example, the storage unit 54 of the determination device 50 may be implemented distributed over a plurality of information processing devices.

[0061] The order of processing the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode may be performed as follows. For example, in the determination result storage unit 541, a history of past determination results is recorded. For a telephone number under investigation that was determined to be in a state of having a subscription contract in the first IP network 10 in the previous determination, the first transmission mode may be configured to be executed first and the second transmission mode to be executed thereafter. On the other hand, for a telephone number under investigation that had a determination result other than the state of having a subscription contract in the first IP network 10 in the previous determination, the second transmission mode may be configured to be executed first and the first transmission mode to be executed thereafter. By being configured in this way, it becomes possible to suppress the number of transmissions (calling numbers) of the transmission information to a small number.

[0062] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and designs and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0063] 10…First IP network, 11…Voice communication control device, 12…First gateway, 13…Second gateway, 20…PSTN network, 30…Second IP network, 40…Communication device, 50…Determination device, 51…Communication unit, 52…Input unit, 53…Output unit, 54…Storage unit, 541…Determination result storage unit, 55…Control unit, 551…Communication control unit, 552…Determination unit

Claims

1. a transmitting step of transmitting transmission information to the first IP network, the transmission information indicating that a call is to be made to the telephone number to be investigated, the transmission information being responded to with response information including an error message from a first IP network using an optical line as an access line or a second IP network connected to the first IP network and operated by a communication line carrier different from the first IP network; a determining step of determining, based on response information received from the first IP network, whether the telephone number is a telephone number that is valid by subscribing to the second IP network, or whether the telephone number is an invalid telephone number that is not subscribed to the second IP network; having The method of determining whether or not the transmission information specifies only audio as a media type and whether or not the payload type is UEMCLIP or PCMU.

2. a communication control unit that transmits to the first IP network transmission information indicating that a call is to be made to the telephone number to be investigated, the transmission information being responded to with response information including an error message from a first IP network using an optical fiber line as an access line or a second IP network connected to the first IP network and operated by a communication line carrier different from the first IP network; a determination unit that determines, based on response information received from the first IP network, whether the telephone number is a telephone number that has been made valid by subscribing to the second IP network, or whether the telephone number is an invalid telephone number that has not been subscribed to the second IP network; Equipped with In the transmission information, only audio is specified as the media type, and UEMCLIP and PCMU are specified as the payload type.

3. a communication control unit that transmits to the first IP network transmission information indicating that a call is to be made to the telephone number to be investigated, the transmission information being responded to with response information including an error message from a first IP network using an optical fiber line as an access line or a second IP network connected to the first IP network and operated by a communication line carrier different from the first IP network; a determination unit that determines, based on response information received from the first IP network, whether the telephone number is a telephone number that has been made valid by subscribing to the second IP network, or whether the telephone number is an invalid telephone number that has not been subscribed to the second IP network, A computer program for causing a computer to function as a determination device, in which only audio is specified as the media type and UEMCLIP and PCMU are specified as the payload type in the transmission information.

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