Abstract:
An integrated telecommunication service system, including one or more digital signal processing (DSP) modules processing voice signals and signaling and independent from each other. The DSP modules are connected to each other via communication and each of them is also connected to PSTN via communication. Each DSP module is also connected to the Network Switch via communication. The Network Switch is connected to one or more hosts via Ethernet. The hosts include the Configuration Management Module and one or more function modules. Each DSP module has an exclusive IP address. Each function module also has a corresponding IP address. The Configuration Management Module use such IP addresses to establish connection between the modules. The connected modules transmit data to each other via Ethernet protocol frames. The invention can reduce R&amp;D time and provide good expandability by applying Ethernet connection and Configuration Management Module.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to the field of communication, to be more specific, an integrated telecommunication service system.  
         [0002]     With the development of telecom services, the business focus has been shifted from basic voice services to value-added services for more revenue. Demands for value-added services naturally generate demands for platform equipment of such value-added services. However, the value-added services have the following characteristics:  
         [0000]     (1) the service need is usually very urgent, demanding the equipment to be launched quickly. If the service is well accepted, the system needs to be expanded for a large capacity;  
         [0003]     (2) the needs for value-added services keep changing rapidly. Typically, a service will be replaced by another in one or two years. Therefore, the equipment cost (including hard costs and soft costs) also plays a key role in determining the success of wide application of the service.  
         [0004]     Considering the aforesaid characteristics of the value-added service platform equipment, the current CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) system has three major defects: First, the complexity of API of the system leads to a long R&amp;D period and high soft costs; Second, the imperfect structure design results in a high hard unit cost and thus a high hard cost of equipment for system fabrication; Third, the single-board processing density and the cascade expandability cannot satisfy the need for high density and subsequent expandability of some systems.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The invention aims to provide an integrated telecommunication service system to reduce R&amp;D time and improve expandability of the current telecom system.  
         [0006]     The technical solution of the invention is to provide an integrated telecommunication service system, including one or more digital signal processing (DSP) modules processing voice signals and layer-2 signalings and independent from each other. The DSP modules are connected to and communicate with each other via CT Bus and each of them is also connected to PSTN via communication. Each DSP module is also connected to and communicates with the Network Switch via Ethernet. The Network Switch is connected to one or more hosts via Ethernet. The hosts include the Configuration Management Module and one or more function modules. Each DSP module has an exclusive IP address and each function module also has a corresponding IP address. The Configuration Management Module use such IP addresses to establish connection between the modules. The connected modules transmit data via Ethernet protocol frames.  
         [0007]     In such an integrated telecommunication service system, each function module includes a network client side sub-module and a network service side sub-module for communication with other modules and each DSP module includes a master scheduler processing Ethernet protocol frames.  
         [0008]     In such an integrated telecommunication service system, one or more function modules sniff and execute control commands from the Configuration Management Module via the network service side sub-modules. The control commands include stopping/starting the current function module.  
         [0009]     In such an integrated telecommunication service system, the DSP modules and the function modules have configuration management ports via which they communicate with other modules.  
         [0010]     In such an integrated telecommunication service system, one or more function modules have a standard program framework which includes inter-module communication methods, a standard data structure and a standard program process.  
         [0011]     In such an integrated telecommunication service system, the standard data structure includes a connection table used to manage status of connection with associated modules.  
         [0012]     In such an integrated telecommunication service system, the standard program process includes:  
         [0000]     (a) Setting parameters of TCP service side sub-modules and sniffing access of client side of other modules; Adding access of legal client side to the connection table or removing disconnected connection from the table;  
         [0000]     (b) Adding access of legal client side to the connection table or removing disconnected connection from the table;  
         [0000]     (c) Processing configuration management packets and inter-module communication packets.  
         [0013]     In such an integrated telecommunication service system, one or more function modules include a status monitoring module used to detect contents of communication packets between function modules.  
         [0014]     In such an integrated telecommunication service system, one or more function modules include a process execution module to realize the system workflow.  
         [0015]     In such an integrated telecommunication service system, one or more function modules include a media stream module for recording and playback of streaming data.  
         [0016]     The integrated telecommunication service system in this invention can reduce R&amp;D time and improve expandability by replacing current ISA/PCI/CPCI Bus and user API programming with Ethernet connection. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is the overall hardware connection structure of the system.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is the structure diagram of the Digital Signal Processing Module in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is the overall module diagram of the system.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is the diagram of the Digital Signal Processing Module in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  represents the overall hardware connection structure of the system.  
         [0022]     In this case, the system includes one or more Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Module  11 —the minimum hardware unit processing real-time signal (e.g. voice signal). Different DSP modules  11  are independent from each other. DSP modules  11  are connected via CT-BUS for communication between each other. Each of them is also connected to PSTN via communication.  
         [0023]     Each DSP Module  11  is also connected to the Network Switch  12  via Ethernet (e.g. twisted pair cable). The Network Switch  12  is connected to one or more Host  13  via Ethernet. Each Host  13  includes one or more function modules (not indicated in  FIG. 1 ) for such functions as recording and playback of streaming data, connection establishment and data frame monitoring (refer to  FIG. 3  for detailed descriptions of function modules). The Network Switch  12  can be used as a universal switch for transmission of Ethernet protocol frames.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  represents the structure diagram of the Digital Signal Processing Module  11  in  FIG. 1 . In this case, the DSP Module  11  simultaneously completes processing of voice signals and signalings of layer  2 , including E1/T1/J1 PSTN Interface  111 , CT812 Chip  112 , DM642 Chip  113  and SDRAM  114 . E1/T1/J1 PSTN Interface  111 , CT812 Chip  112 , DS Chip  113  and SDRAM  114  are connected to local bus  115  respectively. DSP Module  11  is connected to PSTN via E1/T1/J1 PSTN Interface  111  and to other DSP modules via CT812 Interface  112 . DSP Chip  112  adopts high-performance TMS320DM642 and provides over 4800 MIPS processing capabilities. A single chip can process all signalings and voice signals from four E1 on a real-time basis. In this case, each DSP Module  11  has an exclusive IP address.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  represents the overall module diagram of the system. Host  13  includes multiple function modules, such as Media Streaming Module  131 , Signaling Module  132 , Process Execution Module  133 , User Module  134 , Status Monitoring Module  135  and Configuration Management Module  136 , which are based on certain hardware to perform specific functions.  
         [0026]     Each function module is independent from each other. They can be located on the same Host  13  or distributed on different interconnected hosts. Each function module has the same IP address as the host on which it is installed. If a host has more than one function module on it, such modules have the same IP address and different configuration management terminals. Each function module includes a network client terminal module and network service terminal module (not indicated in the figure) for communication with other modules.  
         [0027]     All the above function modules except Configuration Management Module  136  have a standard program framework which is independent from functions of those modules. This can ensure best universality of the integrated telecommunication service system, which satisfies all actual service demands without having to modify programs. You only need to change external definition files and process definitions. The standard framework includes inter-module communication methods, a standard data structure and a standard program process.  
         [0028]     In a case of inter-module communication, TCP/IP is applied as communication protocol. Each ITP Module is connected to TCP service side sub-modules associated with modules at lower levels via the TCP client side and to TCP client side associated with modules at higher levels by providing TCP service side sub-modules.  
         [0029]     In a case of standard data structure, the standard data structure includes a connection table used to manage status of connection with other associated modules. The connection tables of all modules are classified into three types: a. connection with Configuration Management (one); b. connection with modules at lower levels (one or more); c. connection with modules at higher levels (one or more). The connection table is cleared when a module starts, indicating no valid connection. When a connection is established with another associated module during operation, the corresponding item in the connection table is set to a valid value. The value will be set to 0 upon removal of the connection.  
         [0030]     In a case of standard program process, the standard program process includes:  
         [0000]     (1) Reading (if necessary) and processing configuration files and initializing data after startup of the modules;  
         [0000]     (2) Setting parameters of TCP service side sub-modules and sniffing access of client side of other modules;  
         [0000]     (3) Checking access of legal client side to service side sub-modules of the current module and adding such connection (if any) to the connection table of the current module;  
         [0000]     (4) Checking if any configuration management packet is received from the Configuration Management Module. If yes, go to Step (5). Go to Step (6) and clear the corresponding item in the connection table if the access is disconnected;  
         [0000]     (5) Processing configuration management packets and going to Step (4);  
         [0000]     (6) Checking and processing communication packets received from modules at lower levels;  
         [0000]     (7) Processing communication packets sent to modules at lower levels;  
         [0000]     (8) Checking and processing communication packets received from modules at higher levels and going to Step (3).  
         [0031]     Media Stream Module  131  is used for recording and playback of streaming media data based on DSP Module  11 . Signaling Module  132  is used to process signaling protocols above Layer 3 of Signaling No. 7 and Q.931 signaling protocol for Digital Signaling No. 1. Process Execution Module  133  is used to control the system workflow and complete CTI services. User Module  134  is used to process such applications irrelevant to CTI functions as database processing. User Module  134  is written by the user and not indispensable in this case. The above Media Stream Module  131 , Signaling Module  132 , Process Execution Module  133  and User Module  134  are in waiting status after startup, sniff control commands from Configuration Management Module  136  via a port of the network service side sub-modules and execute specific operation according to the received control information.  
         [0032]     Configuration Management Module  136  is the core of the integrated telecommunication service system in this invention. Function modules operate according to control commands from Module  136 . In this case, each DSP Module  11  has an exclusive MAC address which is bonded to the set IP address by Configuration Management Module  136 . In addition, Configuration Management Module  136  can obtain IP address and configuration management port of function modules accessing the system. Configuration Management Module  136 , according to the above IP address information and configuration management ports, establishes connection, configures modules, sends address information of associated modules to associated modules and then sends control commands to get the modules started into normal operating process.  
         [0033]     In the normal operating process, the configuration management module also conducts such functions as monitoring module operation, stopping/starting and adding/removing modules.  
         [0034]     In this case, Media Stream Module  131  can be associated with each DSP Module  11 ; Signaling Module  132  can be associated with each DSP Module  11 ; Process Execution Module is associated with DSP Module  11 , Media Stream Module  131  and Signaling Module  132 . The associated modules transfer information via Ethernet protocol frames to deliver services under the integrated telecommunication service system.  
         [0035]     Configuration Management Module  136  can control operating status of function modules, including Disconnected, Connected and Normal. In addition to control and display of operating status of modules, Configuration Management Module  136  also regularly monitors operating status of the running function modules for timely identification of faulty modules.  
         [0036]     As described above, Configuration Management Module  136  configures information of modules at lower levels associated with any module, namely modules at lower levels which will be directly used by a module at higher level. After launching, Configuration Management Module  136  will establish communication connection with all the other modules according to configuration information on a real-time basis. Once Configuration Management Module  136  confirms establishment of communication connection with a module, it will send an initialization command to the module and a launch command after successful initialization, mark the module as Running after successful launch, transfer related information of the module to all the running modules at higher levels and transfer related information of all the running modules at higher levels to the module (via module association command packets). With the module association command packets, each module can immediately establish communication with associated modules and use their functions. Configuration Management Module  136  regularly sends heartbeat packets to running modules and requests response from the modules once they receive such heartbeat packets so as to inspect running condition of the modules. Once Configuration Management Module  136  confirms disconnection with a module, it will set the module&#39;s status as Disconnected, transfer information of the module to all the related modules at higher and lower levels so that all the related modules can immediately disconnect from the faulty module and stop using its functions. When a module is stopped by user intervention, Configuration Management Module  136  will set the module&#39;s status as Disconnected, transfer information of the module to all the related modules at higher and lower levels so that all the related modules can immediately disconnect from the faulty module and stop using its functions. Configuration Management Module  136  enables easier and more convenient expansion of CTI services.  
         [0037]     Status Monitoring Module  135  is used to monitor contents of communication packets between other modules in the following way: Status Monitoring Module  135  sends monitoring requests to Configuration Management Module  136  which sends the requests to corresponding function modules. The corresponding modules forward communication packets to Status Monitoring Module  135 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 4  represents the diagram of the Digital Signal Processing Module  11  in  FIG. 3 . DSP Module  11 , in terms of function, includes Voice Processing Sub-module  116  and Signaling Sub-module  117 . Voice Processing Sub-module  116  is used to process all voice signals. Signaling Sub-module  117  includes signaling processing units in four channels and a unit controlling and monitoring format of sending and receiving frames. Three work modes—SS1, DSS1 and SS7 can be set for each signaling processing unit. Each unit processes DL signalings of 30 channels on one E1 port under SS1 Mode, one Q.921 link under DSS1 and one MTP2 link under SS7. The Frame Format Controlling and Monitoring Unit performs control and monitoring of format of sending and receiving signal frames on four E1 ports and alarm processing.  
         [0039]     Voice Processing Sub-module  116  and Signaling Processing Sub-module  117  are encapsulated in Ethernet protocol frames by Master Scheduler  118  and sent to function modules for further processing. Or Master Scheduler  118  processes frames from function modules or Configuration Management Module  136  and sends them to Voice Processing Sub-module  116  or Signaling Processing Sub-module  117  for processing.  
         [0040]     The above paragraphs are just some examples of practice of the Invention instead of any limitation in any form to the Invention. Any simple modification, amendment, revision, equivalent change or refinement made to the above examples as per the technical essence of the Invention falls into the technical solution and claims of the Invention.