TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERFACE DEVICE

• US 20010043700A1
• Filed: 03/18/1999
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: KOU, SHO, VEMURI, RATNA, HU, QI, SHIMA, HISATO, CHILAMAKURI, CHENCHU
• Granted Patent: US 6,456,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/399.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Systems and methods consistent with the present invention include a peripheral device connected to a telecommunications network via a telephone line and connected to a multimedia network via a high-speed serial interface. The peripheral device establishes and maintains multiple logical connections between devices in the multimedia network and devices in the telecommunications network.

Claims

1. A telecommunications device for connection via a telephone line and a high-speed serial interface between a telecommunications network and a multimedia network having multiple consumer electronics devices coupled through a high-speed serial bus, the telecommunications device comprising:

means for receiving a call request for a connection between the multimedia network and the telecommunications network;

means for allocating bandwidth to the requested connection;

means for establishing the requested connection; and

means for sending digital signals back and forth between the multimedia network and the telecommunications network.

2. The telecommunications device of

claim 1

, wherein the means for receiving a call request comprises means for receiving a data call request.

3. The telecommunications device of

claim 2

, wherein the means for receiving a call request comprises means for receiving a voice call request.

4. The telecommunications device of

claim 3

, wherein the means for establishing comprises:

means for broadcasting an incoming call indication to at least one of the consumer electronics devices in the multimedia network in response to receiving a voice call request from the telecommunications network.

5. The telecommunications device of

claim 1

, wherein the high-speed serial bus supports data rates of greater than 10 Mbps.

6. The telecommunications device of

claim 1

, wherein the high-speed serial bus is an IEEE 1394 bus.

7. The telecommunications device of

claim 1

, wherein the bandwidth allocation means comprises means for sending a bandwidth release request to each of the active consumer electronics devices in the multimedia network.

8. The telecommunications device of

claim 1

, wherein the bandwidth allocation means comprises means for allocating a minimum amount of bandwidth to each established connection.

9. The telecommunications device of

claim 1

, wherein the bandwidth allocation means comprises:

means for initiating an answer machine function if the amount of bandwidth needed for the connection is unavailable.

10. The telecommunications device of

claim 1

, wherein the bandwidth allocation means comprises:

means for sending a connection unavailable message if the amount of bandwidth needed for the connection is unavailable.

11. A method for connecting, through a telephone line, a telephone network and a multimedia network having multiple consumer electronics devices coupled though a high-speed serial bus, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a call request;

determining whether sufficient bandwidth is available to establish and maintain the requested connection; and

establishing the requested connection between the multimedia network and the telecommunications network.

12. The method of

claim 11

, comprising:

sending a bandwidth release request to active consumer electronics devices in the multimedia network if sufficient bandwidth is not available to establish and maintain the requested connection.

13. The method of

claim 12

, comprising:

initiating a telephone answer function if the active consumer electronics devices do not release a sufficient amount of bandwidth to establish and maintain the requested connection.

14. The method of

claim 12

comprising:

sending a connection unavailable message if the active consumer electronics devices do not release a sufficient amount of bandwidth to establish and maintain the requested connection.

15. An apparatus, for connection via a telephone line and a high-speed serial interface between a telecommunications network and a multimedia network including consumer electronics devices coupled through a high-speed serial bus, said apparatus comprising:

a high-speed serial interface;

a telephone network interface connected to the telecommunications network through the telephone line; and

a controller for establishing multiple simultaneous connections between the consumer electronics devices and the telecommunications network.

16. The apparatus of

claim 15

, wherein the high-speed serial interface supports data rates of greater than 10 Mbps.

17. The apparatus of

claim 15

, wherein the high-speed serial interface is an IEEE 1394 interface.