Patent Application
20080037758
The base unit 20 is principally configured from an interface circuit 21, controller 22, signal processor 23, codec 24, audio amplifier 25, audio amplifier 26, receiver buffer 27, and transmission buffer 28, etc.
The audio amplifier 26 is connected to a microphone 42 built-into the handset 40 and an audio signal inputted to the microphone 42 is amplified by the audio amplifier 26 and inputted to the codec 24. On the other hand, an audio signal outputted by the codec 24 is amplified by the audio amplifier 25 and provided via speaker 41 as an amplifier output. The codec 24 contains an A/D converter and a D/A converter, converts an analog audio signal outputted from audio amplifier 26 to a digital audio signal (audio data) and supplies this audio data to the signal processor 23, and converts audio data outputted by the signal processor 23 to an analog audio signal for output to the audio amplifier 25.
The signal processor 23 is an audio data compression/expansion circuit containing a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) etc. for compressing audio data supplied from a codec 24 for storage in a transmission buffer 28, expanding audio data supplied by the controller 22 after compression processing, and supplying the audio data after expanding to the codec 24. The interface circuit 21 is a circuit containing a MAC (Media Access Control) circuit, and a PHY (Physical Protocol) circuit, for subjecting transmission code transmitted from a transmission path such as IP networks to decoding processing for storage in the receiver buffer 27 and encoding audio data supplied by the controller 22 for transmission to a transmission path. Controller 22 is a circuit for executing call control etc. that reads out audio data stored in the transmission buffer 28 so as to put this audio data into the form of packets at predetermined frames and supply the audio data in the form of packets to the interface circuit 21, and extract audio data from the received data stored in receiver buffer 27 and supply this audio data to the signal processor 23.
Base unit 20 is also equipped with a dial buffer 29 for storing dial data, a hook switch (detection section) 30 for detecting whether the handset 40 is on-hook/off-hook, a dial key 31 for inputting dialing, a call key 32 for requesting a call, an LCD display 33 for displaying dial data etc., and a memory 34 for storing a numbering plan data table, etc.
The numbering plan data table is a table for storing a correlation relationship of a first n digits of numbers (prefix numbers) for a telephone number decided based on numbering plan, and all digit numbers of a telephone number decided based on numbering plan (refer to
It is preferable for the memory 34 to be re-writable memory, and in this event, it is preferable to adopt a configuration where it is possible to update a numbering plan data table using a user input or communication from outside.
It is possible for the order of each step (including partial steps that are not assigned numerals) to be arbitrarily changed providing that this is within a range that does not conflict with the processing content, or each step may be executed in parallel. Further, various control processes other than call processes are executed by the controller 22 but in principle these processes are the same as for the related art and are not described in detail here.
Initially, a number of digits counter and an estimated input number of digits are set to zero and a maximum value for an internal timer is set at a timer counter as initial settings (step S1).
Next, the presence or absence of a key input is determined (step S2).
In the event that there is no key input, it is determined whether or not (internal timer value−timer counter)>timeout value (for example, four seconds) is satisfied (step S3). In the event that this is satisfied, call processing is gone to, and in the event that this is not satisfied, step S2 recurs.
The timeout value may be a variable. For example, in the event of a numbering plan where the total number of digits is “indeterminate” in the numbering plan data table, a configuration is adopted where a specific timeout value is stored so as to correlate with the numbering plan, and this value is read out and used.
In the event that a key input is detected in step S2, the type of key pressed is checked (step S4).
In the event that the pressed key is a call key 32, the call pressing is gone to.
On the other hand, in the event that the pressed key is a dial key 31, dial data is stored in (added to) the dial buffer 29 (step S5). Further, 1 is added to the number of digits counter and it is taken that the timer counter=the internal timer value (step S6).
Next, the estimated input number of digits is checked (step S7).
In step 7, in the event that the estimated input number of digits=0, the estimated input number of digits has not yet been acquired. The memory 34 is therefore referred to, and a determination is made as to whether or not there is a prefix number amongst the prefix numbers stored in the numbering plan data table matching with the dial data (pressed number) (step S8). In the event that n is a prefix number of 2 or more, comparison is made with the series of dial data stored in the dial buffer 29.
In the event that a prefix number matching with the dial data exists in the numbering plan data table, it can be determined that the telephone number for which input is currently progressing matches with a numbering plan corresponding to the matching prefix number. The total number of digits (all of the number of digits of the matching numbering plan) corresponding to the matching prefix number is then acquired from the numbering plan data table and set in the estimated input number of digits (step S9). It is desirable to adopt a configuration where, in the event that a matching prefix number exists, information (for example, a message such as “an attempt is being made to call an extension”) indicating the matching numbering plan is displayed at the LCD display 33. On the other hand, in the event that there is no matching prefix number, “indeterminate” is set to the estimated input number of digits (step S10). Step S7 is then returned to after setting the total number of digits for the matching numbering plan or “indeterminate” at the estimated input number of digits.
In step S7, in the event that the estimated input number of digits=“indeterminate”, step S2 is returned to.
In step S7, in the event that the estimated input number of digits is neither “0” nor “indeterminate”, a determination is made as to whether or not the number of digits counter=estimated input number of digits (step S11). In the event that this is established, it is determined whether input of the telephone number is complete and signal processing is gone to, while on the other hand, in the event that this is not established, step S2 is returned to.
The call processing can be configured in the same way as for the IP telephone of the related art, so that, for example, processing for setting dial data stored in the dial buffer 29 as a call destination number and transmitting the call message etc. is executed.
Further, although not shown in the drawings, in the event that the pressed key is not the call key 32 or the dial key 31, processing that is the same as for the related art is executed according to the type of key pressed. For example, in the event that the pressed key is a cancel key, the dial buffer 29 is cleared and either step S1 is proceeded to or the call processing is halted.
According to this embodiment, a configuration is adopted where the total number of digits for the numbering plan matching with the telephone number currently being inputted is acquired, this is taken as the estimated number of digits to be inputted for the telephone number currently being inputted, and call processing is proceeded to automatically at the stage where the number of digits for the inputted telephone number and the estimated number of digits inputted match. This means it is possible to go to call processing in a straightforward and rapid manner without a call key operation or time out determination being necessary, with the exception of cases where the total number of digits for a numbering plan is “indeterminate”.
The present invention is by no means limited to the above embodiment and application in various modifications is possible.
For example, a description is given taking the IP telephone 10 as an example but the call control apparatus of the present invention is also applicable to digital telephones and mobile telephones such as ISDN telephones where dial data is transmitted collectively.
