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.
134 Citations
60 Claims
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1-21. -21. (canceled)
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22. A voice communication circuit comprising:
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at least one processor capable of packetizing digitized voice information to produce at least one voice packet;
a buffer capable of storing the at least one voice packet;
interface circuitry capable of communicatively coupling the buffer with one of a plurality of interchangeable network interfaces, each of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces supporting communication of voice packets via an associated type of communication network;
the at least one processor capable of determining the associated type of communication network supported by the one of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces in communication with the interface circuitry; and
the at least one processor capable of arranging the transmission of voice packets via the one of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces based upon the associated type of communication network. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A voice communication circuit comprising:
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interface circuitry capable of communicatively coupling with one of a plurality of interchangeable network interfaces, each of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces capable of communicating via an associated type of communication network to receive at least one voice packet;
a buffer capable of storing the at least one voice packet;
at least one processor capable of depacketizing the at least one voice packet to produce digitized voice information;
the at least one processor capable of determining the associated type of communication network supported by the one of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces in communication with the interface circuitry; and
the at least one processor capable of arranging the reception of the at least one packet via the one of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces based upon the associated type of communication network. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections for implementing a voice communication system, the voice communication system capable of accepting at any point in time one of a plurality of interchangeable network interfaces, each of the interchangeable network interfaces for use with an associated type of communication network, the code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the operations comprising:
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detecting the presence of an interchangeable network interface;
determining the associated type of communication network for use with the detected interchangeable network interface;
establishing a packet voice call via the associated type of communication network;
converting analog voice information to transmit voice packets;
sending the transmit voice packets via the associated type of communication network using the interchangeable network interface;
receiving voice packets via the associated type of communication network using the interchangeable network interface; and
converting the received voice packets to analog voice information. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification