Buffers handling multiple protocols

• US 20060227805A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Bauman, Donald R., Hedin, John M., Cannon, Jeffrey J.
• Application Number:
  US11/094,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227805A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/464
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

The present invention relates to buffers that handle multiple protocols in a communication system. In one embodiment, a plurality of communication channels is provide. There is a buffer for each communication channel. Moreover, each buffer is adapted to pass data samples in more than one protocol.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of communication channels; and

a buffer for each communication channel, each buffer adapted to pass data samples in more than one protocol.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the protocol of data samples in one buffer is independent of the protocol of data samples in the other buffers.

3. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising:

a digital converter for each communication channel, each digital converter adapted to dynamically change the protocol of the data samples in an associated communication channel.

4. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising:

a synchronization control circuit adapted to replace parameters in the digital converters to change a protocol of a data samples based on a message in a group of data samples.

5. A method of passing data samples in a multi-channel communication system, the method comprising:

passing a first set of data samples in a first protocol though a first buffer in a first communication channel; and

passing a second set of data samples in a second protocol through a second buffer in a second communication channel.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

dynamically changing the protocol in at least one of the first and second communication channels.

7. A method of passing data samples in communication channels in a communication system, the method comprising:

passing a first data samples having a first protocol through a first buffer;

changing the protocol of the first data samples to a second protocol; and

passing the first data samples having the second protocol through the first buffer.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

passing second data samples having a third protocol through a second buffer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein changing the protocol further comprises:

changing the parameters of an associated digital converter.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

reading a message associated with the first data samples to determine the protocol to switch to.

11. A communication system comprising:

a forward path having a plurality of forward communication channels;

a forward buffer for each communication channel, each forward buffer adapted to pass data samples having more than one protocol type;

a reverse path having a plurality of reverse communication channels; and

a reverse buffer for each communication channel, each reverse buffer adapted to pass data samples having more than one protocol type.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein at least one forward buffer is adapted to pass data samples having a different protocol than the data samples in the other forward buffers.

13. The communication system of claim 11, wherein at least one reverse buffer is adapted to pass data samples having a different protocol than the data samples in the other reverse buffers.

14. The communication system of claim 11, further comprising:

a call process module adapted to process data samples and attached protocol messages to groups of associated data samples; and

a radio head adapted to communicate with remote units, the forward and reverse communication channels coupling the call process module to the radio head.

15. The communication system of claim 14 further comprising:

a digital up converter for each forward communication channel, each digital up converter adapted to dynamically change the protocol of the data samples in an associated forward communication channel; and

a digital down converter for each reverse communication channel, each digital down converter adapted to dynamically change the protocol of data samples in an associated reverse communication channel.

16. The communication system of claim 15, further comprising:

a control synchronizing circuit adapted to read the protocol messages and reconfigure select digital up converters and digital down converters based on associated protocol messages.

17. A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

passing pages of data samples through a plurality of forward communication channels, wherein each forward communication channel includes a forward buffer adapted to handle pages of data samples having different protocols;

changing the protocol of pages of data samples in at least one forward communication channel;

passing pages of data samples through a plurality of reverse communication channels, wherein each reverse communication channel includes a reverse buffer adapted to handle pages of data samples having different protocols; and

changing the protocol of pages of data samples in at least one reverse communication channel.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

attaching a protocol message in a header of a page of data samples;

reading the protocol message in the header of the page of data samples; and

reconfiguring an associated digital converter to change the protocol of the page of data samples in an associated communication channel.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the forward communication channels are adapted to pass pages of data samples having different protocols simultaneously.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the reverse channels are adapted to pass pages of data samples having different protocols simultaneously.