WO1999043182A1

WO1999043182A1 - Method for transmitting digitised audio data and device for realising the same

Info

Publication number: WO1999043182A1
Application number: PCT/AT1999/000043
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wilhelm Liesinger
Original assignee: Nova-Technik Entwicklung Von Und Handel Mit Medizinischen Geräten Gmbh
Priority date: 1998-02-17
Filing date: 1999-02-17
Publication date: 1999-08-26
Also published as: AU2502599A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for transmitting digitised audio data, such as voice data and particularly telephone conversations, between two users via data lines such as ISDN, wherein at least one ISDN provider is provided between said users. The digitised audio data transmission is monitored using address information and port information and, in case a bi-directional flow of digitised audio data is identified between the two Internet users, the bi-directional transmission of digitised audio data is detected. A signalling then occurs at a digital telephone exchange at the beginning and at the end of the digital auditive data flow, or a digital modification is made in the data transmitted during the auditive monitoring.

Description

Method for transmitting digitized audio information and arrangement for carrying out the method

The invention relates to a method for the transmission of digitized audio information, as it is in the preamble of claim 1 and to an arrangement for performing the method, as it is referred to in the preamble of claim 1 1.

InterNet telephony or WebPhone stands for the bidirectional transmission of digitized speech, packaged in standardized InterNet compatible TCP / IP strings (Transmission Control Protocol / InterNet-IntraNet Protocol), which are required for connections of heterogeneous systems in a network, to addressed remote sites with suitable technical equipment. The unusually late start of this development work is due to the fact that there is no standardized USA ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network), InterNet telephony via analog telephone lines using a modem does not lead to any useful results and no different tariffs between data and voice communication are offered.

The standardization of EURO-ISDN in most European countries offers much easier access to ISDN and enables InterNet telephony with software packages such as "Cooltalk" or "Conversation Place" in excellent quality. These Inter- or IntraNet applications require the high transmission speed of ISDN, compress the data according to V.42bis and rely on the high fault tolerance in digitized speech. The introduction of the InterNet tariff enables analogue conversation over ISDN with cheaper tariffs than in known analogue or digital telephone networks. InterNet distributors or providers, so-called providers, will therefore no longer only be seen in the transmission of digital visual information, but also as "switchboard providers" for calls.

The present invention has for its object to provide a method with which a differentiation between digital-visual and digital-auditory data structures can take place. It is also an object of the invention to provide an arrangement which is suitable for carrying out the method.

This object of the invention is achieved by the features of claim 1. The surprising advantage achieved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1 is that the communication is checked and evaluated on ISDN, the digital-auditory bidirectional data flow, namely an InterNet telephone call, between InterNet users via a distributor, namely the so-called provider is detected. As a result, either an immediate signaling to the telephone exchange, for example to the exchange of the postal OES system, or a digital change in the transmitted data can take place.

With a chip card issued by the telephone company, the subscriber can acquire individual authorizations for InterNet telephony in order to be able to react flexibly to future technical requirements.

An embodiment according to claim 2 is also advantageous, since the data flow is only recorded between one user and the distributor, thereby preventing incorrect identification of users.

A further embodiment according to claim 3 is also advantageous since there is compatibility between all connection types at this installation level.

The development according to claim 4 ensures that correct signaling takes place. A recognized InterNet call is ignored if it is on the passive party's side.

However, an embodiment according to claim 5 is also advantageous, as a result of which the active user can be informed of a tariff increase.

According to an embodiment, as described in claim 6, it is possible to create a clear transmission protocol.

According to an advantageous further development according to claim 7, a perfect differentiation between a digital-visual and a digital-auditory data transfer is possible.

In the embodiment according to claim 8, it is advantageous that the connection between two users is in perfect condition, as a result of which the highest possible transmission rate can be achieved. However, a further development according to claim 9 is also advantageous, since in this way every digital-auditory connection is subsequently checked and thus a correct tariff settlement can take place. Precise logging of the Internet call is required.

Finally, an embodiment according to claim 10 is also advantageous since it provides information about the controller used and the active application.

However, the object of the invention is also achieved independently of this by an arrangement for carrying out the method according to the features specified in claim 11.

The surprising advantages resulting from the combination of features of the characterizing part of claim 11 are that, due to the technical differences between the connections, for example the basic connections and primary multiplex connections, the installation of the access control unit is only possible at a location where All ISDN connection types are compatible and access is possible. In a digital telephone system, this location can be implemented on the 2Mbit distributor using a loop. The access control unit is only installed on lines that lead to InterNet providers.

In this case, an embodiment according to claim 12 proves to be advantageous, since this simple construction of the access control unit provides a high level of security against failure. In addition, this hardware effort is economically justifiable.

However, a further development according to claim 13 is also advantageous, since a connection to the distributor and the digital telephone system is thereby easily possible.

The embodiment according to claim 14 is also advantageous, as a result of which the tasks of the access control unit can be processed in a focal point.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

Show it: 1 shows an overview of the data flows according to the invention at an ISDN / Internet workstation;

2 shows the installation of the access control unit according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows the operation of the access control unit according to the invention.

In the introduction it should be noted that in the described embodiment, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component designations, the disclosures contained in the entire description being applicable to the same parts with the same reference numerals or the same component designations. The location information selected in the description, e.g. "above", "below", "laterally" etc. refer to the figure immediately described and shown and are to be transferred to the new position in the event of a change of position. Furthermore, individual features from the exemplary embodiment shown can also represent independent solutions according to the invention.

1, an InterNet workstation 1 is connected to an ISDN system 3 via an interface 2. The interface 2 is connected to the ISDN card 7 in the InterNet workstation 1 via an S-bus 4 and plug 5 as well as distribution boxes 6. A video card 8 and an audio card 9 are provided in the InterNet workstation 1 in addition to the processor (not shown) and the storage media (not shown). A microphone 10 and one or more loudspeakers 11 are connected to the audio card 9. The video card 8 is connected to a visualization device 12, for example a screen.

In the InterNet work station 1, an input / output manager 13 is implemented in software. This communicates with a file system driver 14 in both directions. The input / output manager 13 also transfers data to the input / output request packet 15 of the InterNet / IntraNet applications. Furthermore, there is also a data exchange between the input / output manager 13 and the audio driver 16 via the sound system driver 17, the audio driver 16 and the sound system driver 17 being stored on the audio card 9 by software. A data transfer with the input / output manager 13 likewise takes place via the video interface 18 stored on the video card 8 and a so-called GDI 19. A programming interface 20, referred to as CAPI (Common Application Programmable Interface), is stored on the ISDN card 7 and accesses active as well as passive ISDN cards 7 directly. The programming interface 20 provides the programmer and the operating system with routines for establishing a connection, sending and receiving data. Several B-channels and S-Bus connections are also supported. The EURO-ISDN standardization made this programming interface 20 compatible for different ISDN cards 7 possible.

Furthermore, a network driver interface description 21, referred to as NDIS (Network Drive Interface Specification), is stored on the ISDN card 7 and represents an interface or isolation between the programming interface 20 and the tasks of the transport logging. The programming interface 20 therefore has little to do with the transmission protocols. In addition, a transport driver interface 22, referred to as TDI (Transport Driver Interface), is stored on the ISDN card 7, the transport protocol 23, referred to as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / InterNet) on this transport driver interface 22 -IntraNet Protocol), which is used for connections of heterogeneous systems in a network and the transport protocol 24, referred to as IPX / SPX (InterNet Packet Exchage / Sequenced Packet Exchange), is implemented in software.

An access distributor 25, referred to as a redirector, is also stored on the ISDN card 7. This access distributor 25 is based on the SMB protocol and, in the case of external access, serves as a distributor for the various components in a computer.

2, an InterNet workstation 1 is connected via an interface 2 to an ISDN system 3 via the ISDN connection type basic connection. Another InterNet work station 26 is connected to the ISDN system 3 via a further interface 27 for the ISDN connection type primary multiplex connection.

In the case of a distributor, a so-called provider, a collection module 28 and a control module 29 are provided in the ISDN system 3. The collection module 28 has an LCM processor 30 (Line Concentrating Module Processor) and a controller 31. The control module 29 includes a main processor 32 and an interface 33. The collection module 28 and the control module 29 are connected to one another via a line 34. The InterNet workstation 1 is connected to the base connection 35

Collection module 28 connected and the InterNet workstation 26 is connected to the control module 29 via a primary multiplex connection 36. The interface 33 is on WO 99/43182. g. PCT / AT99 / 00043

a 2 Mbit distributor 37 is connected, which in turn is connected to the access control unit 38. The access control unit 38 is connected to the interface 33 via a loop 39.

According to FIG. 3, the access control unit 38 is connected to the interface 33 via the loop 39. The access control unit 38 has an ISO / OSI reference model 40 with a plurality of priority network levels 41 to 47, software subfunctions 48 being assigned to each network level 41 to 47. This reference model 40 is connected to the 2 Mbit distributor 37 via an interface 49.

The access control unit 38 is constructed in SMD and multilayer technology and has a 4 Mbit or 8 Mbit flash, a 2 Mbit or 4 Mbit static RAM and a 512 x 8 EEPROM as memory. A 10-bit DS30A interface for a maximum transmission rate of 20 Mbit and an RTC with date and 12 or 24 hour mode are used as hardware interface. An RS232 interface for communication and an RS485 interface for internal networking serve as interfaces to the environment. There are several protocols available for different systems.

The access control unit 38 can be configured in two different operating modes: 1. Router mode: Only non-auditory data packets are transmitted to the active subscriber when InterNet telephony is detected. 2. Switch mode: When InterNet telephony is detected, a signal is sent to a digital telephone exchange or to another system for triggering telecom actions.

The access control unit 38 works either as a router or similar to an IP switch, depending on the task selected.

In router mode, every data packet is opened, the content read and interpreted, the filter checked and the packet forwarded. When telephony is recognized, the auditory data packet is replaced by an initializable, constant packet. This can contain information for the participant concerned in order to report this manipulation to him.

According to the ISO / OSI reference model 40, it is necessary to switch to the router mode logical network level 43 to operate. Since this method is very computationally intensive, there is a 60 ms data transmission delay. The data packets are processed synchronously, so this delay is not relevant. In switch mode, the data packets are not stored, so they pass the access control unit 38 unopened. It is therefore not possible to change data. The packets are interpreted exclusively at hardware-related network level 42. The address and port type are checked. When a telephone is recognized, an initializable string is sent to a telecom system via the interface. This can then independently decide what has to happen. There can be no delay in this system. The access control unit 38 has the same knowledge of the transmitted data packets as the CAPI interface for both communicating users. The connection establishment is tracked at the logical network level 42 and the logical network level 43 of the reference model 40. The access control unit 38 dispenses with an NDIS and takes the frames of the protocols into account in the first access layer. The reason for this is that the access control unit 38 does not generate any data packets and is rather to be seen as a passive spy. The access control unit 38 uses the redirector to recognize an access to the port of the sound card, ie an auditory data transfer. Since the access control unit 38 processes the data on both sides, bi-directional InterNet telephony can thus be detected.

The data flow when establishing a connection contains the following information: 1 .: Checking the connection between the users, referred to as PLCI (Physical Link Connection Identifier), which provides information about the controller used and the active application. Before activating the connection, the PLCI first describes the signaling connections. After activation, a physical connection is assigned to the signaling channel. 2 .: Checking a connection to the network, referred to as NCCI (Network Control Connection Identifier). This is a subset of PLCI. NCCI describes the logical connection at network level 43 of reference model 40. 3 .: The network protocol description, referred to as NCPD (Network Control Protocol Description) and 4 .: The protocol-dependent additional information of a network connection, referred to as NCPI (Network Control Protocol information).

This means: 1 .: The type of transmission protocol. 2 .: The distinction between active and passive participants. This is important for the correct signaling. The access control unit 38 ignores a recognized InterNet call if WO 99/43182. g. PCT / AT99 / 00043

it is on the side of the passive participant. 3 .: The direction of communication based on the IP addresses. This is required in order to record bidirectional communication in its chronological order.

Finally, it can be stated that an auditory data transfer is recognized on the basis of the structure and content that this data packet assigns to a sound card.

Finally, for the sake of order, it should be pointed out that individual components and assemblies are shown disproportionately and to scale in the drawings for a better understanding of the invention.

The object on which the independent inventive solutions are based can be found in the description.

Above all, the individual designs shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 can form the subject of independent solutions according to the invention. The relevant tasks and solutions according to the invention can be found in the detailed descriptions of these figures.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

InterNet workstation 41 Network level

Interface 42 network level

ISDN system 43 network level

S-Bus 44 network level

Connector 45 network level

Junction box 46 network level

ISDN card 47 network level

Video card 48 sub-function

Audio card 49 interface

microphone

speaker

Visualization device

Entry / exit manager

File system drivers

Entry / exit request package

Audio driver

Sound system drivers

Video interface

GDI

Programming interface

Network driver interfaces description

Transport driver interface

Transmission protocol

Transport protocol

Access distributor InterNet workstation interface collective module control module LCM processor controller main processor interface line basic connection primary multiplex connection 2Mbit distributor access control unit loop reference model

Claims

Patent claims

1. Methods for the transmission of digitized audio information, e.g. Voice information, in particular telephone calls, via data lines, for example via ISDN, between two users, at least one ISDN provider being provided between the users, characterized in that the transmission of the digitized audio information is monitored via the address and port information and, if so a bidirectional data flow of digitized audio information is recognized between two InterNet users, the bidirectional transmission of the digitized audio information is recorded and then signaling to a digital telephone exchange at the beginning and end of the digital auditory data flow or a digital change in the transmitted data during the auditory process Transfer takes place.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring of the bidirectional data flow is carried out on the data level of the distributor and user.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the monitoring is carried out in the technology of EURO-ISDN standard or the like.

4. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a distinction is made between active and passive users.

5. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the digital change of the transmitted data takes place on the side of the active user.

6. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the respective transmission direction is determined via the exchange of addresses.

7. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a detection of the transmission of the audio information takes place after at least one repetition of a bidirectional transmission. WO 99/43182 _ JJ. PCT / AT

8. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a check of the connection between the users is carried out.

9. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a check of the connection to a network is carried out, this check being carried out on the basis of the network protocol description and the protocol-dependent additional information.

10. The method according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the connection establishment between two users is tracked on at least one logical network level.

11. Arrangement for performing the method according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that an access control unit (38) is provided on a data level between a distributor and a telephone network, with compatibility of the overall uniform EURO-ISDN technology prevailing on this data level .

12. The arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the access control unit (38) consists of at least one erasable memory, which is connected to at least one access memory and at least one buffer, wherein all memories are provided with a power supply and that at least three different ones Interfaces (33) or interfaces (49) are provided.

13. The arrangement according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that two interfaces (33) or interfaces for communication with the distributor and at least one interface (49) are provided for communication with the telephone network.

14. Arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 1 to 13, characterized in that the access control unit (38) has a plurality of priority network levels (41 to 47).