Method and system for processing voice traffic from a multi-channel link into a VoIP network over a broadband network

• US 20050047400A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ARRIS Group, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ansley, Carol
• Granted Patent: US 8,121,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Abstract

A microprocessor and a DSP are coupled with a cable modem and an IAD framer to terminate a DS1 link at a media terminal adaptor device. The processor performs call control operations and the DSP performs signal processing, such that call processing occurs at the device. The framer extracts or inserts call control information from robbed-bit signaling bits. Data streams from the DS1 link are formatted/packetized according to a protocol used by a VoIP network. VoIP is used to transmit the packetized call from the cable modem portion to a CMTS over a broadband network. QoS attributes are implemented on the derived data streams as would be done for calls generated by a standard PacketCable EMTA.

Claims

1. A method for converting circuit-switched voice traffic payload data from a multi-channel data link into packet-switched VoIP traffic, comprising:

terminating the multi-channel link at a media terminal adaptor;

processing payload data at the media terminal adaptor according to call control instruction information;

packaging the payload data according to predetermined packaging rules; and

transmitting the payload data according to a VoIP protocol.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined packaging rules include instructions that any of the channels in the multi-channel data link that are deemed not-active are not to be packaged for transmission.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a channel that is not seized is deemed not active.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein a channel that is seized but is not carrying useful information because a caller is silent is deemed not-active.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the call control instruction information includes instruction on how to compress or decompress outgoing or incoming traffic respectively.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of packaging according to predetermined packaging rules include converting call traffic payload data into Ethernet packets.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the VoIP protocol is PacketCable.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the call control instruction information is contained in robbed-bit signaling bits.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the voice traffic payload data is processed according to SIP call control instructions.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the voice traffic payload data is processed according to H323 call control instructions.

11. A system for terminating a multi-channel link and converting information therefrom into packet data at a user device for communication over a network, comprising:

means for interfacing with the network

means for terminating the multi-channel link, the terminating means being coupled with the interfacing means;

a first processor means for performing call control operations and for performing configuration operations on the device, the first processor being operatively coupled with the interfacing means and the terminating means; and

a second processor means coupled to the processor for performing voice data processing, wherein the second processor is operatively coupled with the first processor.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for interfacing with the network is a cable modem.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for terminating the multi-channel link is a framer.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the framer is an integrated access device.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the first processor is a microprocessor.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the second processor is a digital signal processor.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the call control operations include messaging to establish, maintain or release a call connection.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the cable modem comprises the first processor.