WO2002021815A2

WO2002021815A2 - Line control apparatus, control method therefor, and telephone communication system

Info

Publication number: WO2002021815A2
Application number: PCT/JP2001/007413
Authority: WO
Inventors: Junji Shibata; Mats ÅKESSON
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2000-09-04
Filing date: 2001-08-29
Publication date: 2002-03-14
Also published as: WO2002021815A3; WO2002021815A8; AU2001282530A1

Abstract

A line control apparatus which is used for a telephone communication system and can superimpose a sound on a call during speech communication is disclosed. A line control apparatus 5 connects a service subscriber to a destination subscriber designated by the service subscriber, and reads out a BGM from a sound DB 10, plays it back, and superimposes it on a speech communication line in accordance with the contents set in advance by the service subscriber at the same time when the speech communication line is established. The line control apparatus 5 also plays back a sound from the sound DB 10 and superimposes it on a speech communication line in response to the press of a key on a service subscriber terminal or destination subscriber terminal.

Description

DESCRIPTION

LINE CONTROL APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a line control apparatus and a telephone communication system using the same and, more particularly, to a line control apparatus capable of superimposing a stored sound on a call during speech communication.

BACKGROUND ART

In a telephone communication system, voice response unites have been widely used as apparatuses for providing stored voice messages. These voice response unites include many types of apparatuses such as an apparatus designed to simply play back predetermined messages and an interactive type apparatus designed to detect a key pressed on a calling terminal and play back a corresponding voice message. These apparatuses are widely used for automatic services using telephones.

Such a voice response unit, however, is simply designed to connect a caller who has originated a call to a telephone number assigned to the apparatus and play back a voice message for the caller. DESCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems in the prior art, and has as its object to provide a line control apparatus which can superimpose an arbitrary sound on a line during speech communication between subscribers in accordance with preset contents.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a telephone communication system using a line control apparatus according to the present invention. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line control apparatus characterized by comprising sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound, user database means storing service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal that can use the line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively, search means for acquiring the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying a predetermined condition by using the user database means, line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying the predetermined condition and the destination subscriber information corresponding to the service subscriber information, and sound superi position means for playing back predetermined sound data from the sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information satisfying the predetermined condition.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line control apparatus characterized by comprising sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound, search means for acquiring the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying a predetermined condition from user database means which is deployed outside of the line control apparatus and stores service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal that can use the line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively, line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying the predetermined condition and the destination subscriber information corresponding to the service subscriber information, and sound superimposition means for playing back predetermined sound data from the sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information satisfying the predetermined condition.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line control apparatus characterized by comprising sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound, user database means storing service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal that can use the line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively, search means for, when receiving a speech communication request using the line control apparatus from a calling subscriber terminal, acquiring from the user database means the destination subscriber information and the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal, line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the destination subscriber information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal, and sound superimposition means for playing back predetermined sound data from the sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line control apparatus characterized by comprising sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound, search means for, when receiving a speech communication request using the line control apparatus from a calling subscriber terminal, using user database means which is deployed outside of the line control apparatus and stores service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal capable of using the line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively, acquiring the destination subscriber information and the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal, line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the destination subscriber information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal, and sound superimposition means for playing back predetermined sound data from the sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telephone communication system using the line control apparatus of the present invention.

According to still another object of the present invention, there is provided a control method for a line control apparatus including sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound, and user database means storing service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal that can use the line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively, characterized by comprising the search step of acquiring the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying a predetermined condition by using the user database means, the line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying the predetermined condition and the destination subscriber information corresponding to the service subscriber information, and the sound superimposition step of playing back predetermined sound data from the sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information satisfying the predetermined condition.

According to still another object of the present invention, there is provided a control method for a line control apparatus including sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound, characterized by comprising the search step of acquiring the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying a predetermined condition from user database means which is deployed outside of the line control apparatus and stores service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal that can use the line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively, the line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying the predetermined condition and the destination subscriber information corresponding to the service subscriber information, and the sound superimposition step of playing back predetermined sound data from the sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information satisfying the predetermined condition.

According to still another object of the present invention, a control method for a line control apparatus including sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound, and user database means storing service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal that can use the line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively, characterized by comprising the search step of, when receiving a speech communication request using the line control apparatus from a calling subscriber terminal, acquiring from the user database means the destination subscriber information and the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal, the line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the destination subscriber information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal, and the sound superimposition step of playing back predetermined sound data from the sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal.

According to still another object of the present invention, there is provided a control method for a line control apparatus including sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound, characterized by comprising the search step of, when receiving a speech communication request using the line control apparatus from a calling subscriber terminal, using user database means which is deployed outside of the line control apparatus and stores service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal capable of using the line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively, acquiring the destination subscriber information and the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal, the line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the destination subscriber information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal, and the sound superimposition step of playing back predetermined sound data from the sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a view for explaining an example of the overall arrangement of a mobile radio communication system using a line control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the line control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a view showing an example of the arrangement of a communication I/F 56 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the a service host 8 in Fig. 1.

Fig.5 is a view showing an example of a service setting menu. Fig. 6 is a view showing an example of the arrangement of a record in a user database.

Fig. 7 is sequence chart showing line control processing by a line control apparatus 5 in the first embodiment . Figs. 8A and 8B are sequence charts showing line control processing by the line control apparatus 5 in the first embodiment .

Fig. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of the line control apparatus 5 in the first embodiment. Fig. 10 is a view showing an example of a table corresponding to sound effect settings.

Fig. 11 is a view showing an example of a notification message transmitted to a service subscriber in the second embodiment . Fig. 12 is a flow chart showing the operation of a line control apparatus 5 in the second embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a sequence chart showing line control processing by the line control apparatus 5 in the second embodiment .

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) The present invention will be described in detail below on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings .

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall arrangement of a mobile radio communication system as an example of a telephone communication system using a line control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, a mobile radio system 1 includes subscriber terminals (mobile radio communication terminals) 11 and 12, base stations (BSs) 21 and 22, mobile controlling and switching centers (MSCs) 31 to 33, Internet gateway unit 4, line control apparatus 5, and gateway switching unit β. In the case shown in Fig. 1, the subscriber terminal 11 exists in the service area of the base station 21, the subscriber terminal 12 exists in the area of the base station 22, and both the base stations 11 and 12 are placed under the control of the MSC 31. Although not shown, there are a plurality of base stations to be managed by each of the MSCs 32 and 33, and a plurality of subscriber terminals handled by each base station. Obviously, the number of MSCs, the number of base stations to be managed by each MSC, and the number of subscriber terminals to be handled by each base station can be arbitrarily set.

Each of the MSCs 31 to 33 in this embodiment performs switching control for both speech communication and data communication. The MSCs 31 to 33 communicate control signals necessary for switching control and the like with each other through a common line (not shown) .

The gateway switching unit 6 serving as an interface between the mobile radio communication system 1 and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 13 is connected to the MSC 33. A communication line is connected between a general fixed subscriber telephone 14 connected to the PSTN 13 and a subscriber terminal belonging to the mobile radio communication system 1 through the gateway switching unit β.

The line control apparatus 5 according to the present invention is connected to the MSC 31. The line control apparatus 5 includes a user database (DB) 9 storing data that can specify a subscriber (service subscriber) who has registered to a speech communication service using the line control apparatus 5, the corresponding service settings, and the like, and a sound database (DB) 10 storing sound data in a form that allows the line control apparatus 5 to play back. Services using the sound DB 10 are provided in accordance with the service subscriber settings registered in the user DB 9. As will be described later, the line control apparatus 5 is configured to communicate with a service host 8 for managing services using the line control apparatus 5, and shares the user DB 9 with the service host In this specification, the term "sound" means a general "sound" such as a sound effect, musical tone, noise, and environmental sound as well as human voice, and the term "sound data" means data in an arbitrary form which is played back as a "sound". In addition, there is no limitation on sound sources, which may be artificially generated or may exist in the nature.

Each of the subscriber terminals 11 and 12 in this embodiment can perform not only speech communication but also packet communication. When a kye for activating packet communication, prepared on a terminal, is pressed, the terminal can perform data communication with another subscriber terminal, computer device, or the like through a connection different from that for speech communication. The Internet gateway unit 4 functions as an interface between the mobile radio communication system 1 and the Internet 7, and connects a device that can be accessed through the Internet 7 to a terminal belonging to the mobile radio communication system 1. The service host 8 is a service management unit for providing additional services using the line control apparatus 5 for speech communication using a terminal belonging to the mobile radio communication system 1. For example, the service host 8 is comprised of a so-called HTTP server. The service host 8 communicates with a terminal belonging to the mobile radio communication system 1 by data communication through the Internet gateway unit 4. The service host 8 allows a subscriber terminal to interactively set such as the contents of speech communication services using the line control apparatus 5, and reflects the set service contents on the user DB 9 of the line control apparatus 5.

In this embodiment, both the line control apparatus 5 and service host 8 can be implemented by using general-purpose computers having necessary communication interfaces . Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the line control apparatus 5 according to this embodiment. The line control apparatus 5 includes a CPU 51 for controlling the overall apparatus, a ROM 52 storing programs executed by the CPU 51 and various data, a database I/F 53 serving as an interface between the sound DB 10 and the user DB 9, a network I/F 54 serving as an interface for data communication with the service host 8, a RAM 55 used as a work area or the like of the CPU 51, a communication I/F 56 for speech communication with a subscriber terminal through the MSC 31, a DTMF detection unit 57 for detecting which key on a subscriber terminal is pressed, and an HDD 58 in which a voice response application, programs executed by the CPU 51, and the like are stored. The respective constituent elements, other than the user DB 9 and sound DB 10, are connected to each other through buses (data, address, and control buses) of the CPU 51. In addition, the DTMF detection unit 57 is directly connected to the communication I/F 56 to detect the press of a terminal key during speech communication.

Playback processing for sound data in the line control apparatus 5 may be implemented by the CPU 51 executing a playback program or using dedicated hardware.

As described above, the line control apparatus 5 in this embodiment, in the mobile radio communication system 1, can take an arbitrary configuration as long as it can perform speech communication with a subscriber terminal and act as a terminal which can perform data communication and shares the user DB 9 with the service host 8.

A characteristic feature of the line control apparatus 5 according to this embodiment is that a predetermined sound is superimposed on a line being used for speech communication. More specifically, the line control apparatus 5 can provide a BGM service of superimposing a predetermined music as a BGM, a sound effect service of superimposing a sound pre-assigned to a pressed key on a caller terminal during speech communication in real time, and the like. A type of sound to be superimposed can be arbitrarily set for each speech communication from a plurality of types of sounds.

The line control apparatus 5 implements such sound superimposition on a line being used for speech communication by setting calls to the service subscriber and designated destination subscriber, respectively, connecting these two calls inside the line control apparatus 5 upon establishment of the calls, and superimposing sound data. Call setting by the line control apparatus 5 will be described later in detail. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the communication I/F 56 of the line control apparatus 5 in Fig. 2. The communication I/F 56 has a line control unit 61.

The line control unit 61 includes a first line connection unit 62 for connecting a call between the line control apparatus 5 and a service subscriber under the control of the CPU 51, and a second line connection unit 65 for setting a call between a destination subscriber designated by the service subscriber and the line control apparatus 5. The first and second line connection units 62 and 65 are connected to each other through a switch 63. The first and second line connection units 62 and 65 are connected to the DTMF detection unit 57. The sound played back from the sound DB 10 can be independently supplied to the first and second line connection units 62 and 65.

Note that the first and second line connection units 62 and 65 have at least circuits (NCUs, DTMF generating circuits, and the like) required to originate calls to subscriber terminals, and may further have circuits for detecting incoming calls. The CPU 51 controls the line connection units 62 and 65 through CPU bus. A procedure in which a subscriber uses a speech communication service using the line control apparatus 5 will be described next. As described above, in this embodiment, the service host 8 manages setting of speech service contents. A subscriber interactively performs this setting through data communication such as packet communication with the service host 8.

More specifically, when the subscriber presses a connection button for data communication, which is provided for the mobile radio communication terminal 11, a connection is established between the mobile radio communication terminal 11 and the Internet gateway unit 4. When the subscriber inputs the URL, IP address, and the like of a service host by using keys of the mobile radio communication terminal 11, communication based on the

TCP/IP protocol can be established between the mobile radio communication terminal 11 and the service host 8.

Fig.4 is a flow chart showing processing in the service host 8 after a subscriber terminal (mobile radio communication terminal 11) belonging to the mobile radio communication system 1 is connected to the service host 8. First of all, in step S101, the subscriber number of the caller is acquired and temporarily stored in a storage unit such as a RAM (not shown) . In this case, if the subscriber number of the mobile radio communication terminal 11 is not automatically notified or cannot be acquired from the service host 8, data for displaying a message like "Please input your telephone number" can be transmitted, and the subscriber number input by the subscriber in response to this message can be temporarily stored. Predetermined initial menu display data for speech services is transmitted from a storage unit such as an HDD (not shown) (step S102) . The menu display data may take any kind of form as long as it can be interpreted by an application installed in the terminal. For example, a standard generalized markup language such as HTML (SGML, XML) , an extended HTML having undergone instruction extension, or WAP can be used.

The flow waits until the subscriber selects any of the menu items on the initial menu displayed on the terminal screen (step S103) . If selection is detected, determination on the selected item is performed (step S104 ) . If it is determined that the subscriber has selected a process for changing the registered contents, e.g., changing the registered service contents or deletion of registered contents, the flow advances to step S108. If new service setting is selected, the flow advances to step S105.

If it is detected in step S104 that the new service setting is selected, the display data of a service setting menu like the one shown in Fig.5 is transmitted (step S105) . Referring to Fig.5, the service setting menu includes a destination designation field 101 for designating a destination telephone number (destination subscriber number) , a date and time designation field 102 for designating a date on which a service is executed, a BGM field 103 for setting a BGM, and a sound effect designation field 104 for setting a sound effect.

The destination designation field 101 is a field for designating a destination of speech communication using a service (sound superimposition service) using the line control apparatus 5. The telephone number of the destination to be designated is input in this field. The destination to be designated may be a subscriber terminal belonging to the mobile radio communication system 1, a fixed telephone connected to the PSTN 13, or a subscriber connected to a telephone network (not shown) , which is capable to communicate with the mobile radio communication system 1.

The date and time designation field 102 is a field for designating a date/time on which speech communication using a service is to be executed. When the designated time has come, the line control apparatus 5 calls the calling subscriber, and makes an inquiry to check whether the subscriber is to originate a call to the telephone number designated in the destination designation field 101.

The BGM field 103 is a field for designating a genre of music to be used as a BGM during speech communication. In the case shown in Fig. 5, five genres of music can be selected. A user selects a desired genre of music by selecting one of radio buttons set before the genres of music using the cursor key and setting key (or keys assigned these functions) on the terminal. If "none" is set in the BGM field 103, no BGM is played back. In this specification, "BGM" means a sound that is continuously played back, and an arbitrary sound such as an environmental sound (the sound of waves, noise in a crowd, or the like) can be used as well as a so-called musical sound.

Fig. 5 shows a case wherein a genre of music is set. A configuration can be made to allow detailed settings. More specifically, an item such as "music designation" is set for the BGM field 103. When this item is selected, the service host 8 provides a list of music that can be used as a BGM to allow the user to designate music to be used. The sound effect designation field 104 is a field to be set when the subscriber is to use the service of superimposing a sound of a relatively short duration (about 1 min at maximum) , in real time, corresponding to a key on the terminal which is pressed by the subscriber during speech communication. In the case shown in Fig. 5, setting examples are presented when a sound effect such as the sound of an explosion is to be superimposed during speech communication with an acquaintance, e.g. , a friend with the subscriber. In this case, sound effects are assigned to four keys.

Setting for the sound effect designation field is performed by selecting a radio button as in the case of the BGM field 103. Assume that "entertainment" is selected as shown in Fig. 5. In this case, when a subscriber presses the "1" key during speech communication, the sound of laugher is played back and superimposed on the busy line. When the service setting is completed, the subscriber presses the key assigned to "end of setting" to notify the service host 8 of the setting contents. The service host 8, which has been waiting for the end of setting in step S106, registers service subscriber information and service contents in the user DB 9 in accordance with the received setting contents (stepSl07), and terminates the processing. In this case, the flow may return to step S102 after the processing to transmit the initial menu.

Fig. 6 is a view showing an example of the data structure of the user DB 9. The user DB 9 is comprised of a service subscriber number field 201, destination subscriber number field 202, BGM setting flag 203, BGM number field 204, sound effect setting flag 205, sound effect setting number field 206, timer setting flag 207, and timer process date field 208.

The subscriber number of a subscriber who has performed setting is stored in the service subscriber number field 201. A designated destination subscriber number is stored in the destination designation field 101. In the BGM setting flag 203, sound effect setting flag 205, and timer setting flag 207, "l"s are respectively set when the BGM field 103, sound effect designation field 104, and date/time designation field 102 are set; "0"s are respectively set otherwise. In the BGM number field 204, sound effect setting number field 206, and timer process date field 208, the setting contents in the BGM field 103, sound effect designation field 104, and date/time designation field 102 are stored, respectively.

In the BGM field 103 and sound effect designation field 104 in which setting is performed with radio buttons, however, setting contents are internally converted into numerical values. For example, in the BGM field 103, "pops", "rock", "environmental music", "moody", and "none" are respectively converted into "1", "2", "3", "4", and "0". In the sound effect designation field 104, an "entertainment" set and an "environmental sound" set are respectively converted into "1" and "2".

If the deletion/change of registered service contents is selected in step S104, it is checked in step S108 whether the calling subscriber is a service subscriber. That is, the user DB 9 is searched by using the calling subscriber number acquired in step SlOl to check the presence/absence of a corresponding record. If no corresponding record is present, since it indicates that the calling subscriber has not registered a communication service using the line control apparatus 5, a message indicating that no service is set, which is to be deleted or changed, is transmitted to the subscriber terminal (step S109) . The flow then returns to step S102. In this case, display data linked to the new registration menu (e.g., a message like "New registration ?") may be transmitted, together with the message indicating that no registration has been made, to allow the flow to immediately advance to the new registration processing without any selection on the initial menu.

If the presence of registered service contents corresponding to the calling subscriber is confirmed in step S108, the registered contents are acquired from the user DB 9 and transmitted to the calling subscriber (step S110) .

The registered contents that are transmitted are, for example, display data reflecting the registered contents read out from the user DB 9 in the newly setting/registration menu data shown in Fig.5. At the left and right positions on the lowermost portion of the display window, instructions such as "delete" and "end of change" (corresponding to predetermined keys of a service subscriber terminal) by which a service subscriber gives the service host 8 instructions are displayed.

If the reception of a delete instruction or change instruction is detected after a wait state in step Sill, the user DB 9 is updated in accordance with the contents of the instruction (step S112) . If a delete instruction is detected, the registered contents are deleted from the user DB 9. If a change instruction is detected, the registered contents are overwritten with new contents transmitted together with the change instruction.

As described above, in this embodiment, the user DB 9 is used as a shared database held by the line control apparatus 5, and hence the right to correct the user DB 9 is given to the service host 8 in advance.

Obviously, update processing for the user DB 9 may be performed by transmitting a database change instruction from the service host 8 to the line control apparatus 5 and making the line control apparatus 5 interpret the database change instruction and perform processing such as registration, deletion, and change. In this case, a database change instruction is generated by the service host 8 in accordance with a predetermined data format and transmitted to the line control apparatus 5 in accordance with a general communication protocol such as the TCP/IP protocol.

When update processing for the user DB 9 is completed in step S112, the processing is terminated. After the processing, the flow may return to step S102 to transmit an initial menu.

Line connecting operation of the line control apparatus 5 according to this embodiment will be described next with reference to the sequence chart shown in Fig. 7. Line control to be performed when the mobile radio communication terminal 11 is a service subscriber, and a sound superimposition service is to be performed for speech communication with the mobile radio communication terminal 12 will be described below.

First of all, when a set time has come, the line control apparatus 5 originates a call to the service subscriber (step S701) . If a response is received (step S702) , a speech communication line is established between the line control apparatus 5 and the service subscriber (mobile radio communication terminal 11) . The line control apparatus 5 then plays back a voice message to inquire whether to originate a call to the destination set by the service subscriber in advance (step S703) .

If a call origination instruction is generated for a voice message (step S704), the line control apparatus 5 originates a call to a destination subscriber (mobile radio communication terminal 12) (step S705) .

If the destination subscriber responds to this call

(step S706) , a speech communication line is established between the line control apparatus 5 and the mobile radio communication terminal 12. At this time, the line control apparatus 5 is only performing speech communication with the mobile radio communication terminals 11 and 12 independently. The line control apparatus 5 then turns on (closes) the switch 63 for connecting the first and second line connection units 62 and 65. At this time, a line is connected between the service subscriber and the destination subscriber, thus allowing speech communication. The line disconnecting operation of the line control apparatus 5 according to this embodiment will be described next with reference to the sequence charts shown in Figs. 8A and 8B. Line disconnection procedures vary depending on whether the subscriber who has disconnected a line is a service subscriber or destination subscriber. Fig. 8A shows a case wherein the service subscriber has disconnected the line. Fig. 8B shows a case wherein the destination subscriber has disconnected the line.

If the service subscriber has disconnected the line, the first line connection unit 62 detects the disconnection

(step S801) . At this time, the speech communication line between the line control apparatus 5 and the mobile radio communication terminal 11 is disconnected. Upon detecting the line disconnection from the mobile radio communication terminal 11 through the first line connection unit 62, the CPU 51 turns off (opens) first the switch 63 for disconnecting the first and second line connection units 62 and 65, thereby disconnecting the line between the terminals. The CPU 51 then instructs the second line connection unit 65 to disconnect the line from the mobile radio communication terminal 12. In accordance with this instruction, the second line connection unit 65 disconnects the line (step S802) , thus completing the line disconnection processing. If the destination subscriber has disconnected the line, the second line connection unit 65 detects the disconnection (step S803) . At this time, the speech communication line between the line control apparatus 5 and the mobile radio communication terminal 12 is disconnected. Upon detecting the line disconnection from the mobile radio communication terminal 12 through the second line connection unit 65, the CPU 51 turns off (opens) first the switch 63 for connecting the first and second line connection units 62 and 65, thereby disconnecting the line between the terminals. The CPU 51 instructs the first line connection unit 62 to disconnect the line from the mobile radio communication terminal 11. In accordance with this instruction, the first line connection unit 62 disconnects the line (step S804) , thus completing the line disconnection processing.

Sound superimposition service processing performed by the line control apparatus 5 will be described next with reference to the flow chart of Fig. 9. Assume that in the following case, the mobile radio communication terminal 11 (subscriber number 090-aaaa- bbbb) is a service subscriber and performs, a sound superimposition service is to be provided for speech communication with the subscriber (subscriber number 090-xxxx-yyyy) of the mobile radio communication terminal 12, and 090-xxxx-yyyy is set in advance as a destination telephone number, together with BGM "rock" and sound effect designation "entertainment".

First of all, the records in the DB 9 are searched for a record with a timer process flag "1" (step S201) . It is then checked whether there is any process whose date registered in the timer process data field 208 coincides with the current time (step S202) . If there is no corresponding timer process, the flow returns to step S201 to perform a search after a lapse of a predetermined time (e.g., 1 min) (step S217).

If it is determined in step S202 that there is a timer process date coincides with the current time, the service subscriber number field 201 of the same record is referred to, and a call is originated to the service subscriber terminal (radio communication terminal 11) (step S203) . The flow then waits for a response from the service subscriber (step S204) . If no response is received for a predetermined period of time or the service subscriber terminal cannot be called, the flow advances to step S218 to perform redialling.

Although an arbitrary redialling method can be used, for example, a method of repeatedly performing redialling after a lapse of a predetermined time or a method of increasing the redialling intervals every time redialling is performed may be used. If no response is received even after redialling is performed a predetermined number of times, the timer process itself can be stopped. If it is determined in step S204 that a response from the service subscriber is detected, a voice message (e.g., "Call origination to 090-xxxx-yyyy is set. Do you want to originate a call immediately? If so, press "1"; otherwise, press "0"") indicating that call origination using a sound superimposition service is set is played back from the sound DB 10 to notify it (step S205) .

In this case, the contents of BGM settings, sound effect settings, and the like may be notified, as well as the destination subscriber number.

If a call origination instruction (press of "1" key in the above case) responding to the voice message is detected by the DTMF detection unit 57 in step S206, a call is originated to the destination subscriber (step S207) . If no call origination instruction is detected in step S206 even after a lapse of a predetermined time, speech communication is considered to be canceled, and the value of the timer setting flag 207 and the value of the timer process date field 207 are set to 0 in the corresponding record of the service subscriber in the user DB 9 (stepS219). The line is then disconnected from the service subscriber (step S220) , and the processing is terminated.

If the destination subscriber responds to the call made in step S207 (step S209) , the switch 63 for connecting the first and second line connection units 62 and 65 is turned on to connect the service subscriber and the destination subscriber (the mobile radio communication terminal 11 and the mobile radio communication terminal 12) to each other (step S212) .

In this case, when the destination subscriber responds, a voice message informing that this speech communication uses a service superimposition service may be played back from the sound DB 10 and transmitted to the destination subscriber through the second line connection unit 65.

If it is determined in step S209 that no response is received from the destination subscriber, and the first line connection unit 62 detects line disconnection done by the service subscriber during this period (step S210) , calling operation for the destination subscriber is stopped (step S211) . The processing is then terminated.

When the service subscriber and the destination subscriber (the mobile radio communication terminal 11 and the mobile radio communication terminal 12) are connected to each other in step S212, the BGM setting flag 203 in the service subscriber record in the user DB 9 is checked to determine whether BGM setting has been made or not (step S213) .

If the BGM setting flag 203 is "1", a genre of a BGM or a number indicating a specific BGM is read out from the contents of the BGM number field 204 in step S214. If genres of BGMs are designated as in this embodiment, one of the sound data of designated genres of BGMs (in this case, "rock") stored in the sound DB 10 is arbitrarily selected to determine a BGM to be played back, and playback is started (step S214) . At this time, the service subscriber and destination subscriber begin to hear the BGM.

In this embodiment, the sound data played back while the switch 63 is closed and the first and second line connection units are connected to each other may be supplied to either the first line connection unit 62 or the second line connection unit 65. In contrast to this, the sound transmitted to the service subscriber or destination subscriber while the switch 63 is open is supplied to only one of the first and second line connection units 62 and 65 which corresponds to the destination subscriber for the sound.

The line control apparatus 5 then checks the sound effect setting flag 205 in the same record to check whether sound effect setting has been made. If the sound effect setting flag 205 is "1" and sound effect setting is confirmed, a sound effect table corresponding the number stored in the sound effect setting number field 206 is read out from the HDD 58 and stored in a predetermined area in the RAM 55. If no sound effect has been made, no operation is performed.

The sound effect table has, for example, the format shown in Fig. 10, in which input keys and corresponding playback speech files are recorded in pairs. In this embodiment, the "*" key of the terminal is assigned as a special key for interrupting and resuming the playback of BGM, and the "#" key is assigned as a special key for stopping playback of the BGM. The two lowest rows of the table shown in Fig. 10 indicate the assignment of these special keys. In this embodiment, since the "entertainment" set is designated as a sound effect setting, the corresponding numerical value "1" is recorded in the sound effect setting number field 206, and a table (Fig. 10) with table number 1 corresponding to this numerical value is read out and stored in a predetermined area in the RAM 55.

The DTMF detection unit 57 always monitors speech communication signals in the first and second line connection units 62 and 65 and detects a key input from a terminal (step S215) . When the press of a key by the service subscriber (mobile radio communication terminal 11) or destination subscriber (mobile radio communication terminal 12) is detected by the DTMF detection unit 57 (Fig. 2) , the table stored in the predetermined area in the RAM 55 is looked up, and a sound file corresponding to the input key is read out from the sound DB 10 and played back. If no input key is present in the table, no operation is performed. If the "*" key or "#" key, which are respectively assigned to the interruption/resumption of playback of the BGM and the stop of playback of the BGM, is input, the playback of BGM is interrupted/resumed or stopped (step S218) . Line disconnection by the service subscriber or destination subscriber is monitored during speech communication (step S221) . If line disconnection is detected, the switch 63 is turned off to disconnect the first and second line connection units 62 and 65 from each other (step S222) . Subsequently, the remaining line which has not been disconnected is disconnected (step S223) , and the processing is terminated. If it is determined in step S221 that no disconnection is detected, the flow returns to step S215 to check the presence/absence of a key input. (Second Embodiment)

In the first embodiment, when a set time has come, a notification is made to a service subscriber by using a voice message. However, this notification can be made from a service host 8 by data communication.

In this case, the service host 8 performs processing from search processing for a timer process (steps S201, S202, and S217) to the notification to the service subscriber (steps S204 and S205) in the first embodiment. Since the service host 8 can refer to a user DB 9, this arrangement is the same as that of the first embodiment except that a first line connection unit 62 requires an incoming call detection function.

Unlike the first embodiment, since line connection between a line control apparatus 5 and a service subscriber terminal (a mobile radio communication terminal 11 in this case) must be performed in accordance with an outgoing call from the service subscriber terminal, a mobile radio communication system 1 needs to recognize the outgoing call to the line control apparatus 5. In addition, the mobile radio communication system 1 must authenticate the caller as a service subscriber.

Assume that in this embodiment, a special number (e.g., 00XX; X is an integer from 1 to 9) is added to an outgoing call to the line control apparatus 5 which is made for speech communication using a sound superimposition service.

For example, the message shown in Fig. 11 is notified from the service host 8 to the service subscriber. In the case shown in Fig.11, setting contents are also displayed. If the service subscriber presses a key assigned to "call" while the message is displayed, a link indicating the origination of a call to "00XX", which is set at "call" in the message display data, is interpreted by an application in the terminal and executed. When an outgoing call is made to "00XX", the MSC 31, which receives this calling number through the base station 21, recognizes by itself (or upon inquiring a central control station) that the outgoing call is directed to the line control apparatus 5, and calls the line control apparatus 5.

Subsequent operation of the line control apparatus 5 will be described with reference to the flow chart of Fig. 12. The line control apparatus 5 responds to this call (step S301) . At this time, a line is connected between the line control apparatus 5 and the mobile radio communication terminal 11. The line control apparatus 5 then acquires the calling subscriber number (step S302) . The line control apparatus 5 searches the user DB 9 by using the subscriber number of the caller (step S303) to check whether the calling subscriber is a service subscriber, i.e., an executable service corresponding to the calling subscriber has been registered, and also checks the destination subscriber number of the corresponding record (step S304) .

If no calling subscriber number is present in the user DB 9, the line control apparatus 5 responds in step S306 by transmitting, from the sound DB 10, a voice message indicating that no executable service contents are registered, thereby terminating the processing.

If it is determined in step S304 that the calling subscriber is a service subscriber, and a destination subscriber number is registered, the same processing as that performed after the destination subscriber is called (step S207) in the first embodiment is performed. Fig. 13 is a sequence chart showing line control to be performed until a service subscriber is connected to a destination subscriber in this embodiment. Line disconnection control is the same as that in the first embodiment shown in Figs. 8A and 8B.

This embodiment may be configured such that a notification flag area is newly set as a field in the user DB 9, and the value in this flag area is set to "1" when the service host 8 makes a notification to a service subscriber. In this case, when the line control apparatus 5 searches for a record corresponding to a calling subscriber in a case wherein a service subscriber has made a plurality of settings, in particular, a service based on correct settings can be reliably provided. [Other Embodiment]

In the above embodiments, the line control apparatus 5 and service host 8 are regarded as discrete arrangements. However, since both the line control apparatus 5 and service host 8 can be implemented by computer units having a common basic arrangement, the functions of the service host 8, i.e., the display data server function and user DB update processing server function on the terminal, can be provided for the line control apparatus 5. If the line control apparatus 5 incorporates the functions of the service host 8 in this manner, the apparatus arrangement can be further simplified.

The user DB need not always be incorporated in the line control apparatus 5, and may be set in a place where the line control apparatus 5 can refer to. For example, the user DB may be connected to the service host 8.

Alternatively, both the line control apparatus 5 and service host 8 may have user DBs. In this case, if one of the user DBs undergoes a change, both the user DBS are synchronously updated. As has been described above, according to the present invention, flexible speech communication services can be provided by using the line control apparatus.

Claims

1. A line control apparatus characterized by comprising: sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound; user database means storing service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal that can use said line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively; search means for acquiring the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying a predetermined condition by using said user database means; line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying the predetermined condition and the destination subscriber information corresponding to the service subscriber information; and sound superimposition means for playing back predetermined sound data from said sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information satisfying the predetermined condition.

2. A line control apparatus characterized by comprising: sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound; search means for acquiring the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying a predetermined condition from user database means which is deployed outside of said line control apparatus and stores service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal that can use said line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively; line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying the predetermined condition and the destination subscriber information corresponding to the service subscriber information; and sound superimposition means for playing back predetermined sound data rom said sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information satisfying the predetermined condition.

3. The line control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said line connection means comprises: first line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and said line control apparatus on the basis of the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying the predetermined condition; second line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between said destination subscriber terminal and said line control apparatus on the basis of the destination subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying the predetermined condition; and third line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and said line control apparatus and a speech communication line between the destination subscriber terminal and said line control apparatus.

4. The line control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said sound superimposition means starts playing back and superimposing sound data designated by the service information in response to completion of connection of a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal by said line connection means.

5. The line control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said apparatus further comprises key detection means for detecting a key pressed on one of the service subscriber terminal and destination subscriber terminal during speech communication, and said sound superimposition means plays back sound data assigned in advance to the key detected by said key detection means and superimposes the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal.

6. A line control apparatus characterized by comprising: sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound; user database means storing service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal that can use said line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively; search means for, when receiving a speech communication request using said line control apparatus from a calling subscriber terminal, acquiring from said user database means the destination subscriber information and the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal; line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the destination subscriber information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal; and sound superimposition means for playing back predetermined sound data from said sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal.

7. A line control apparatus characterized by comprising: sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound; search means for, when receiving a speech communication request using said line control apparatus from a calling subscriber terminal, using user database means which is deployed outside of said line control apparatus and stores service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal capable of using said line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively, acquiring the destination subscriber information and the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal; line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the destination subscriber information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal; and sound superimposition means for playing back predetermined sound data from said sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal.

8. The line control apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said line connection means comprises : first line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between the destination subscriber terminal and said line control apparatus on the basis of the destination subscriber information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal; and second line connection means for connecting a speech communication line between the calling subscriber terminal and said line control apparatus and a speech communication line between the destination subscriber terminal and said line control apparatus .

9. The line control apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that said sound superimposition means starts playing back and superimposing sound data designated by the service information in response to completion of connection of a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal by said line connection means.

10. The line control apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that said apparatus further comprises key detection means for detecting a key pressed on one of the service subscriber terminal and destination subscriber terminal during speech communication, and said sound superimposition means plays back sound data assigned in advance to the key detected by said key detection means and superimposes the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal.

11. A telephone communication system using said line control apparatus defined in any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A control method for a line control apparatus including sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound, and user database means storing service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal that can use said line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively, characterized by comprising: the search step of acquiring the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying a predetermined condition by using the user database means; the line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying the predetermined condition and the destination subscriber information corresponding to the service subscriber information; and the sound superimposition step of playing back predetermined sound data from the sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information satisfying the predetermined condition.

13. A control method for a line control apparatus including sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound, characterized by comprising: the search step of acquiring the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying a predetermined condition from user database means which is deployed outside of said line control apparatus and stores service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal that can use said line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively; the line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying the predetermined condition and the destination subscriber information corresponding to the service subscriber information; and the sound superimposition step of playing back predetermined sound data from the sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information satisfying the predetermined condition.

14. The control method for the line control apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the line connection step comprises: the first line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the line control apparatus on the basis of the service subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying the predetermined condition; the second line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the destination subscriber terminal and the line control apparatus on the basis of the destination subscriber information corresponding to the service information satisfying the predetermined condition; and the third line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the line control apparatus and a speech communication line between the destination subscriber terminal and the line control apparatus .

15. The control method for the line control apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the sound superimposition step comprises starting playing back and superimposing sound data designated by the service information in response to completion of connection of a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal in the line connection step.

16. The control method for the line control apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the method further comprises the key detection step of detecting a key pressed on one of the service subscriber terminal and destination subscriber terminal during speech communication, and the sound superimposition step comprises playing back sound data assigned in advance to the key detected in the key detection step and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal.

17. A control method for a line control apparatus including sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound, and user database means storing service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal that can use said line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively, characterized by comprising: the search step of, when receiving a speech communication request using said line control apparatus from a calling subscriber terminal, acquiring from the user database the destination subscriber information and the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal; the line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the destination subscriber information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal; and the sound superimposition step of playing back predetermined sound data from said sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal.

18. A control method for a line control apparatus including sound database means storing sound data to be played back as a sound, characterized by comprising: the search step of, when receiving a speech communication request using the line control apparatus from a calling subscriber terminal, using user database means which is deployed outside of said line control apparatus and stores service subscriber information specifying a service subscriber terminal capable of using the line control apparatus, destination subscriber information specifying a destination subscriber terminal and service information which are associated with the service subscriber information respectively, acquiring the destination subscriber information and the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal; the line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the destination subscriber information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal; and the sound superimposition step of playing back predetermined sound data from the sound database means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal on the basis of the service information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal.

19. The control method for the line control apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the line connection step comprises: the first line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the destination subscriber terminal and the line control apparatus on the basis of the destination subscriber information associated with the service subscriber information corresponding to the calling subscriber terminal; and the second line connection step of connecting a speech communication line between the calling subscriber terminal and the line control apparatus and a speech communication line between the destination subscriber terminal and the line control apparatus.

20. The control method for the line control apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the sound superimposition step comprises starting playing back and superimposing sound data designated by the service information in response to completion of connection of a speech communication line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal in the line connection step.

21. The control method for the line control apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that the method further comprises the key detection step of detecting a key pressed on one of the service subscriber terminal and destination subscriber terminal during speech communication, and the sound superimposition step comprises playing back sound data assigned in advance to the key detected by the key detection means and superimposing the sound data played back on a line between the service subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal.