Hierarchical data collection network supporting packetized voice communications among wireless terminals and telephones
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network accommodates real time voice transmission both through dedicated, scheduled bandwidth and through a packet-based routing within the confines and constraints of a data network. Conversion and call processing circuitry is also disclosed which enables access devices and personal computers to adapt voice information between analog voice stream and digital voice packet formats as proves necessary. Routing pathways include wireless spanning tree networks, wide area networks, telephone switching networks, internet, etc., in a manner virtually transparent to the user. A voice session and associate call setup simulates that of conventional telephone switching network, providing well-understood functionality common to any mobile, remote or stationary terminal, phone, computer, etc.
-
Citations
50 Claims
-
1-21. -21 (Canceled).
-
22. A device for communicatively coupling a packet network to at least one communication network having a different information format, the device comprising:
-
a packet interface for exchanging information via the packet network;
at least one network interface, each of the at least one network interface for exchanging information via an associated one of the at least one communication network in an associated format;
at least one converter for selectively converting information received by the packet interface for transmission via one of the at least one network interface in the associated format, and for selectively converting for transmission via the packet interface information received from the one of the at least one network interface in the associated format; and
a controller for receiving call setup information from one of the packet network and the at least one network interface, the controller adapting the operation of the converter and establishing an association between the packet interface and one of the at least one network interface, based upon the call setup information. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A method for communicatively coupling a packet network to at least one communication network having a different information format, the method comprising:
-
receiving call setup information from one of the packet network and the at least one communication network;
establishing an association between the packet network and one of the at least one communication network based upon the call setup information;
receiving information from the packet network in a first information format;
converting the received information from the first information format to a second information format based upon the call setup information;
sending the converted information via the one of the at least one communication network;
accepting information from the one of the at least one communication network in the second information format;
transforming the accepted information from the second information format to the first information format based upon the call setup information; and
transmitting the transformed information via the packet network. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
Specification