Techniques for implementing telephonic, fax, and/or data communications using internet protocols and satellite links
First Claim
1. A communications system for use with a satellite-equipped link adapted to establish one or more Internet Protocol (IP) communication pathways between a first location and a second location;
- the communications system comprising;
(a) a gateway hub, at the first location, coupled to a terrestrial data network and also to a terrestrial telephonic network; and
(b) a mobile auxiliary communications facility at the second location, wherein the mobile auxiliary communications facility includes a utilization mechanism for utilizing the IP communication pathways to implement one or more bi-directional telephonic communication links and one or more bi-directional data links.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile auxiliary communications facility for use with a satellite-equipped communications link and a gateway hub. The satellite-based communications link is adapted to provide one or more Internet Protocol (IP) communication pathways between a first location and a second location. The gateway hub, situated at the first location, is coupled to a terrestrial data network and also to a terrestrial telephonic network. The mobile auxiliary communications facility of the present invention includes a utilization mechanism for utilizing the IP communication pathways to implement one or more bi-directional telephonic communication links and one or more bi-directional data links between the first location and the second location. The mobile auxiliary communications facility is equipped with a conversion/deconversion mechanism and a bandwidth allocation, multiplexing and demultiplexing mechanism. In operation, the mobile auxiliary communications facility is deployed to a second location which represents a site that does not have access to a terrestrial communications network, a site where access to a terrestrial network has been interrupted, and/or a site where a terrestrial network is not functional. The conversion/deconversion mechanism converts voice, speech, and/or audio signals into a packet format compatible with standard Internet Protocol (IP) data transmissions. The bandwidth allocation, multiplexing and demultiplexing mechanism allocates the available bandwidth of a communications link by combining voice and data packets into a single composite IP data channel. This combination process is performed in accordance with usage, demand, and/or a set of quality of service (QoS) prioritization parameters. The bandwidth allocation, multiplexing and demultiplexing mechanism responds to a momentary lack of voice activity by temporarily reducing the number of voice IP packets on the composite IP data channel.
22 Citations
95 Claims
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1. A communications system for use with a satellite-equipped link adapted to establish one or more Internet Protocol (IP) communication pathways between a first location and a second location;
- the communications system comprising;
(a) a gateway hub, at the first location, coupled to a terrestrial data network and also to a terrestrial telephonic network; and
(b) a mobile auxiliary communications facility at the second location, wherein the mobile auxiliary communications facility includes a utilization mechanism for utilizing the IP communication pathways to implement one or more bi-directional telephonic communication links and one or more bi-directional data links. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
- the communications system comprising;
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31. A mobile auxiliary communications facility for use with (i) a satellite-equipped link adapted to establish one or more Internet Protocol (IP) communication pathways between a first location and a second location, and (ii) a gateway hub, at the first location, coupled to a satellite earth station, a terrestrial data network, and a terrestrial telephonic network;
the mobile auxiliary communications facility for use at the second location and comprising a utilization mechanism for utilizing the IP communication pathways to implement one or more bi-directional telephonic communication links and one or more bi-directional data links. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method for use with (i) a satellite-equipped link adapted to establish one or more Internet Protocol (IP) communication pathways between a first location and a second location, and (ii) a gateway hub, at the first location, coupled to a terrestrial data network and also to a terrestrial telephonic network;
- the method comprising the steps of;
(a) utilizing the IP communication pathways to implement one or more bi-directional telephonic communication links at the second location; and
(b) utilizing the IP communication pathways to implement one or more bi-directional data links at the second location. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
- the method comprising the steps of;
Specification