JP2001358846A - Communications equipment and method for performing communication with specified subscriber device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform communication with a corresponding telephone set with the Internet as a window, when the display object of a banner advertisement or the like is selected at perusing of a web page. SOLUTION: When the display object 100 of an image displayed at the browser 21 of a client device 20 is clicked, the telephone number of anchor information is sent to a communication center 10. The communication center 10 calls a CTI center 60 via an exchange 14 and a subscriber network 50 and establishes a line between the communication center 10 and the CTI center 60. The client device 20 and the communication center 10 are connected by the Internet 40, the communication center 10 and the CTI center 60 are connected by the subscriber network 50 and the communication is enabled between the client device 20 and the CTI center 60, as a result.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication technology for making a call to a predetermined subscriber device using a display object of a document being viewed on a client device, for example, a banner advertisement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the sale of goods and services using the Internet has been increasing. As a method of such sales, an input form of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) or the like is used, and the transaction information input by the customer is used as an argument in the processing program as HT.
There is a method of transferring by TP (hypertext transfer protocol). Such a technique is effective for routine transactions. In contrast, the homepage (web page)
In some cases, only the contents of products and services are explained or an advertisement is given, and the actual order is made separately by telephone. In such an embodiment, an operator or specialization can make detailed correspondence using a CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) center or the like. In addition, the consumer's intention can be confirmed without fail, which is preferable from the viewpoint of consumer protection. However, in this case, a further telephone call must be made while using the Internet, and the operation is complicated. In addition, if the user is connected to the Internet through a dial-up connection and there is no other available line, he cannot make a call in the first place.
It is necessary to take notes such as telephone numbers, temporarily disconnect from the Internet, and then call CTI or the like.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology for easily making a call with a subscriber telephone.

[0004]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a configuration as described in the claims is adopted. Here, the description of the claims will be supplementarily described.

That is, according to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a client device is connected via an IP (Internet Protocol) network and communicates with the client device and a subscriber device designated as a subscriber network. To a communication device that performs a call between the subscriber network: the destination address data transmitted based on a predetermined event performed in the client device to a display object associated with the destination address data of the subscriber device in the subscriber network. Means for receiving a call to the subscriber device via the subscriber network based on the destination address data; means for receiving a voice IP packet sent from the client device; Means for converting voice IP packets from the client device into outgoing voice signals;
Means for transmitting the outgoing voice signal to the subscriber unit of the subscriber network using the line established by the call; and transmitting from the subscriber unit of the subscriber network using the established line. Means for converting an incoming audio signal into an audio IP packet; and means for transmitting the audio IP packet of the received audio signal to the client device.

In this configuration, when a click operation or the like is performed on a display object included in the document being viewed, for example, a banner advertisement, a call is made to the corresponding subscriber device (telephone), and the subscriber device and the client device are called. IP between
Calls are made over the network and the subscriber network (note that the client device does not need to call the subscriber device directly over the subscriber network). The user of the client device does not need to make a call using a separate telephone.

This communication device may be constituted by one server device or a combination of a plurality of server devices.

[0008] The IP network is, for example, the Internet.
A private IP network provided by a communication carrier may be used.
In short, it is only necessary that a document browsing service or the like conforming to the IP protocol can be used.

[0009] The subscriber network is a public line network such as a fixed telephone network or a mobile telephone network.

[0010] The subscriber unit includes a fixed telephone, a portable telephone,
In short, it is a device that makes a call through a subscriber network, such as a portable terminal having a call function, an intelligent home electric appliance such as an intelligent television receiver, or the like.

The destination address data is basically a telephone number. Of course, any device can be used as long as it can specify the subscriber device. It may be an IP address or a physical address incorporated in the subscriber device. Ancillary data may be included in addition to the destination address.

The display object is, for example, a banner advertisement displayed on the browsing screen. Anything that indicates to the viewer that it is associated with the call can be an image, graphics, or text. An image map may be used.

The predetermined event is, for example, a click operation on a display object. If it is associated with a key on the keyboard, it may be a key operation on the keyboard. It may be a voice input. As usually employed in a mobile phone, a procedure of scrolling a display object to be selected and then operating a selection button may be used.

[0014] In the above configuration, an exchange means connectable to a plurality of connection points of the subscriber network may be further provided. The exchange means includes a POI closest to the subscriber unit.
At the (interconnection point), connection is made with the subscriber network.
In this way, the usage fee of the subscriber network is reduced.

The document is an HTML document, and the display object is associated with the destination address data by marking up the display object with an anchor tag, and as an anchor information, the address of a calling program and the destination address data. May be described. You may make it possible to interpret as destination address data using an XML document. In addition, the association between the destination and the display object is possible in various modes.

Further, the document may be locally stored in the client device in advance. In this case, the document may be for electronic commerce, or may be used for private occasions or business such as a telephone directory. Such a document may be stored in a client device via a recording medium such as a communication line, a broadcast channel, a CD-ROM, or the like, so that a call can be made to a predetermined subscriber line (free of charge for trial or providing materials). You may be able to make calls.)

The present invention can be realized not only as an apparatus or a system, but also as a method. In addition, it goes without saying that a part of such an invention can be configured as software. Also, it goes without saying that a software product (recording medium) used for causing a computer to execute such software is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows the entire communication system of this embodiment. In FIG.
It includes a call center 10, a client device 20, an Internet service provider 30, the Internet 40, a subscriber network 50, a CTI center 60, and the like. The client device 20 is connected to the Internet 40 via an Internet service provider 30. Usually, a dial-up connection based on PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) is used. Of course, the client device 20 and the Internet 40 may be connected by a dedicated line. The call center 10 is connected on the one hand to the Internet 40 and, on the other hand, to an interconnection point (P
OI) 51 is connected to the subscriber network 50.

The call center 10 includes a web server 11, a call server 12, a gateway 13, and an exchange 14. The web server 11 stores an HTML document and transmits a desired web page to the client in response to a request from the client. The web server 11 includes functions of an application server such as a CGI (Common Gateway Interface). Call server 1
2 instructs the gateway 13 to make a call based on the call data sent from the web server 11, receives the IP packetized voice information sent via the Internet 40, sends it to the gateway 13, The IP packetized voice information sent from the gateway 13 is sent to the destination client device 20 via the Internet 40. The gateway 13 converts between an IP packet and a voice signal. These servers and the like are interconnected by a LAN (local area network) 15.

The client device 20 is a personal computer, a portable terminal, or a portable telephone. It may be an intelligent fixed telephone or an intelligent home appliance. A web browser (browsing client) 21 and a call client 22 are mounted on the client device 20. The web browser 21 is for using a browsing service provided by the web server 11, and receives a web page to be viewed from the web server 11 and displays the web page. The call client 22 makes a request to the call server 12 of the call center 10 to request the transfer of the IP packetized voice information. Call client 2
2 converts an audio signal input from a microphone (not shown) of the client device 20 into an IP packet.
The call client 22 is, for example, a web browser 21
As plug-in software or JAVA (registered trademark) applet.

The CTI center 60 is for responding to applications and consultations from customers in connection with mail-order sales, banking business, insurance business and the like. In this example, it is assumed that the CTI is for application or consultation of an insurance product of an insurance company. CTI Center 60
Includes a CTI server 61, an automatic answering device 62, an operator client device 63, a telephone 64, a LAN 65, and the like.

The CTI server 61 also has a function of a PBX (Private Branch Exchange) and responds to the contents of a call (such as an application) from the subscriber network 50. The response to the customer is basically performed by the automatic answering device 62, and the operator 66 additionally responds by using the telephone 64. Operator 6
6 can respond while viewing customer information and transaction history using the operator client device 63.

Here, an example of an HTML document browsed on the client device 20 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a home page (web page) for selling insurance products. In this homepage, we explain about insurance products and have a phone image 100
Is displayed, and an explanation that clicking on this image 100 allows a call using the homepage (Internet) to be made is displayed. Predetermined anchor information is embedded in the image 100 using an anchor tag. The anchor information is the path and file name of a program that performs call processing, and a telephone number as an argument to be passed to this program. This phone number is the insurance company's CT
The telephone number of the I center 60. For example, the program is “com.cgi” and the telephone number is “03-xxxx-
xxxx ", <A HREF =" com.cg
i? 03-xxxx-xxxx "><IMG=" URL of image file "ALT =" alternative text "><
/ A> is marked up as anchor information.

In such a home page, image 10
When the click operation is performed, the telephone number is delivered to the web server 11 of the call center 10 by the POST method. The call center 10 makes a call based on the telephone number, and establishes a line with the CTI center 60. In the case of a browsing device that does not support an image, for example, a mobile phone, a telephone number is transmitted in the same manner when an alternative text is selected and operated.

FIG. 3 shows a procedure for using the telephone system of this embodiment. In this figure, a user uses a web browser 21 of the client device 20 to make a predetermined homepage (for example, the insurance shown in FIG. (S10). Thereafter, a display object, for example, the image 100 is clicked (S11). As a result, the telephone number of the CTI center 60 such as an insurance company is sent to the call center 10, and a line between the call center 10 and the CTI center 60 is established (S12). The user is notified of the establishment of the line, and the call is started (S13).

FIG. 4 shows the exchange of data in the communication system of this embodiment, focusing on the exchange at the time of calling. First, when the image 100 is clicked on the web browser 21, the destination telephone number is sent from the client device 20 to the web server (application server) 11 (x1). The web server 11 sends the destination telephone number to the call server 12 (x2). The call server 12 sends a destination telephone number and a call request to the gateway 13 (x
3). The gateway 13 sends the call signal to the exchange 14, PO
I51, destination CTI center 60 via subscriber network 50
(X4). When the CTI center 60 performs off-hook operation, a response (off-hook) signal is sent from the CTI center 60 to the gateway 13 and response information is sent to the call server 12 (x5). The call server 12 sends the response information to the client device 20, and the client device 20 is notified that a call is possible (x6). Thereafter, audio information is exchanged between the client device (microphone and speaker (not shown)) 20 and the CTI center 60 (x7, x8).

As described above, according to the call system of this embodiment, a call can be made to the telephone at a predetermined destination via the Internet by clicking the display object on the browsing screen.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the present invention can be applied to a mobile phone 70 capable of accessing the Internet. For example, the user can access the Internet using the mobile phone 70, browse a predetermined homepage, select a display object (for example, text), and make a call using the call center 10 as in the previous embodiment. In the example shown in FIG.
To access the Internet.

As shown in FIG. 6, a telephone number is associated with a display object 101 such as a banner advertisement displayed on a web browsing screen or a mail browsing screen, and a call is made to a corresponding telephone when the banner advertisement is clicked. A call may be made and a call made over the Internet. In this case, it is preferable to provide a display indicating whether the link is a link to a homepage or a predetermined telephone. In this example, the handset of the telephone is displayed on the dock of the banner advertisement to notify the user. Of course, such a display may be included in the image of the banner advertisement, or may be displayed in the surrounding text.

As shown in FIG. 7, a web page indicating the display of the telephone directory is stored in the call center 10, and when the display object 102 such as "Taro Yamada" is clicked, the corresponding telephone is connected to the Internet. The user may be able to make a call via the. The web page of the telephone directory may be locally stored in the client device 20.

The argument passed to the call center 10 when the display object is clicked is not a telephone number, but may be a telephone number to which auxiliary data is added. The auxiliary data is, for example, data indicating which web page and a company ID. If the auxiliary data is fixed, a code representing a combination of the telephone number and the auxiliary data may be delivered to the call center 10. Call center 1
0 holds a predetermined telephone number database (database 16 in FIG. 1), and extracts a telephone number and auxiliary data by code. The telephone number is used for calling, and the auxiliary data is sent as it is to the destination, for example, as control data. Further, billing control may be performed in the call center 10 using the auxiliary data.

A connection fee is charged to the communication center 10 from the operating company (operator) of the subscriber network 50 in connection with the connection of the subscriber network 50. May be added.

The object of the call is not limited to the CTI center, but may be a general subscriber telephone.

The gateway 13 is connected to the exchange and the P
Although connected to the subscriber network 50 via the OI 51, the gateway 13 may be connected to a subscriber line of the subscriber network 50.

Although only one subscriber network 50 is shown, it is needless to say that the network can be connected to any of subscriber networks (including a mobile communication network) provided by various operators.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, a call through the Internet can be made using a display object displayed when browsing a web page or mail using the Internet. Can be performed with other subscriber devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a web page used in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for using the call system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Call center 11 Web server 12 Call server 13 Gateway 14 Exchanger 15 LAN 16 Database 20 Client device 21 Web browser 22 Call client 30 Internet service provider 40 Internet 50 Subscriber network 60 CTI center 61 CTI server 62 Automatic answering device 63 Operator client device 64 telephone 65 LAN 66 operator 70 mobile phone 71 button 100 image 101 display object 102 display object

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Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A communication device connected to a client device via an IP network for making a call between the client device and a designated subscriber device of a subscriber network, wherein the subscriber device of the subscriber network has Means for storing a document for displaying a display object associated with destination address data; and a document for displaying the display object based on a document retrieval request sent from the client device via the IP network. To the client device; means for receiving the destination address data sent via the IP network based on a predetermined event for the display object displayed on the client device; and Means for making a call to said subscriber device via said subscriber network, Means for receiving a voice IP packet sent from the client device, means for converting the received voice IP packet from the client device into a transmission voice signal, and a line established by the call for transmitting the transmission voice signal. Means for transmitting to the subscriber device of the subscriber network using the established line, means for converting a received voice signal transmitted from the subscriber device of the subscriber network to the voice IP packet using the established line, Means for transmitting a voice IP packet of the received voice signal to the client device, wherein the device communicates with a designated subscriber device. 2. A communication device connected to a client device via an IP network and performing a call between the client device and a designated subscriber device of a subscriber network, comprising: Means for receiving the destination address data transmitted via the IP network based on a predetermined event performed in the client device with respect to the display object associated with the destination address data; Means for making a call to the subscriber device via the subscriber network; means for receiving a voice IP packet sent from the client device; and converting the received voice IP packet from the client device into an outgoing voice signal. Means for converting the outgoing voice signal to the subscriber network using the line established by the outgoing call. Means for transmitting to a subscriber device, means for converting a received voice signal transmitted from a subscriber device of the subscriber network into a voice IP packet using the established line, and voice IP packet of the received voice signal Means for transmitting a call to the client device. 3. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising switching means connectable to a plurality of connection points of said subscriber network, wherein a call to said subscriber device is made via said switching means and said subscriber network. Or a communication device for making a call with a designated subscriber device according to 2 or 3. 4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the destination address data of the subscriber device is a telephone number. 5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said IP network is the Internet. 6. The document is an HTML document, and the association between the display object and the destination address data is performed by marking up the display object with an anchor tag, calling the address of a calling program as anchor information, and the destination address. 6. The communication device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the communication is performed by describing data. 7. A communication method for making a call between a client device and a designated subscriber device of a subscriber network, wherein a display object associated with destination address data of the subscriber device of the subscriber network is displayed. Storing a document for displaying the display object to the client device based on a document retrieval request sent from the client device via an IP network; and the client device. Receiving the destination address data sent via the IP network based on a predetermined event for the display object displayed in the step (b); and sending the subscriber device to the subscriber device via the subscriber network based on the destination address data. Making a call, and a sound sent from the client device Receiving an IP packet; converting the received voice IP packet from the client device into an outgoing voice signal; and subscribing the outgoing voice signal to the subscriber network using a line established by the outgoing call. Transmitting a received voice signal transmitted from a subscriber device of the subscriber network to a voice IP packet using the established line; and a voice IP packet of the received voice signal. Transmitting a call to the client device. 8. A server device for providing a call service with a subscriber device of a subscriber network in response to a request from a client device connected via an IP network, wherein the subscriber device of the subscriber network is provided. Means for storing a document for displaying a display object associated with the destination address data, and a document for displaying the display object based on a document retrieval request sent from the client device via an IP network. Means for transferring to the client device, means for receiving the destination address data sent based on a predetermined event for the display object displayed on the client device, and means for the subscriber device based on the destination address data. Means for making a call via the subscriber network; Means for receiving an incoming voice IP packet, means for converting the received voice IP packet from the client device into an outgoing voice signal, and means for subscribing the outgoing voice signal using the line established by the outgoing call. Means for transmitting to the subscriber unit of the local network, means for converting a received voice signal transmitted from the subscriber unit of the subscriber network to a voice IP packet using the established line, Means for transmitting the voice IP packet to the client device. 9. A client device for requesting a server device connected via an IP network to perform a call service with a subscriber device of a subscriber network, wherein destination address data of the subscriber device of the subscriber network is provided. Means for storing a document for displaying a display object associated with the display object; means for displaying the display object based on the document; and storing the destination address data based on a predetermined event for the displayed display object. Means for transmitting to the server device; means for receiving an IP packet of a voice signal transmitted by using a line between the server device and the subscriber device established based on the address data; Means for converting the IP packet into an audio signal, and an audio signal generated on the client device main body side as an IP packet. Means for converting the data into a packet and transmitting the converted data to the server.