Delay reduction method for telephony systems with multiple packet generators

• US 20070070986A1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rabenko, Theodore
• Granted Patent: US 8,189,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/90 Buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/9094 Arrangements for simultaneous transmit and receive, e.g. simultaneous reading/writing from/to the storage element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A telephony system and method is provided that reduces delay and provides better utilization of upstream bandwidth in delivering packet telephony services to a plurality of subscriber lines via a cable modem system. An exemplary system includes a plurality of voice processing modules, a host processor, and a buffer. Each voice processing module receives digital voice signals from a separate set of subscriber lines, compresses the digital voice signals to generate a voice packet, and transfers the voice packet to the buffer. The host processor then assembles a packet by concatenating the voice packets and transmits the assembled packet for delivery over a data network. Because the plurality of voice processing modules process the voice packets in parallel, delay is reduced in the assembly and transmission of the assembled packet.

Claims

1. A telephony system, comprising:

a first voice processing module;

a second voice processing module;

a host processor coupled to said first and second voice processing modules; and

a buffer coupled to said first voice processing module, said second voice processing module, and said host processor;

wherein said first voice processing module is adapted to receive first digital voice signals from any one of a first plurality of subscriber lines, to compress said first digital voice signals to generate a first voice packet, and to transfer said first voice packet to said buffer,

wherein said second voice processing module is adapted to receive second digital voice signals from any one of a second plurality of subscriber lines, to compress said second digital voice signals to generate a second voice packet, and to transfer said second voice packet to said buffer; and

wherein said host processor is adapted to assemble a packet comprising said first voice packet and said second voice packet and to transmit said assembled packet for delivery over a data network.

2-24. -24. (canceled)