Distributed codec for packet-based communications

• US 20070076697A1
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: McRae, Matthew, Harrington, Kendra, Huotari, Allen
• Granted Patent: US 8,553,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• 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 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Abstract

A packet-based communications system is provided, including: a client communications module for transmitting digital audio signals to a user interface device over a local area network (LAN) and for receiving digital audio signals from the user interface device, a voice packet module, and a network protocol module for transmitting data packets between the voice packet module and an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The voice packet module is configured to: receive audio signals from the client communications module and encapsulate the audio signals into data packets; convert data packets into audio signals and transmit the audio signals to the client communications module. A communications device is provided, including: a microphone; a speaker; a user input device; a network interface for coupling the communications device to a local area network (LAN); an audio processing module comprising an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting analog audio signals from the microphone into a digital audio signal and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for converting a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal, said analog signal being output by the speaker; and an endpoint communications module for connecting to a telephony adapter on the LAN via the network interface, said endpoint communications module communicating digital audio signals with the telephony adapter over the LAN.

Claims

1. A packet-based communications system, comprising:

a client communications module for transmitting digital audio signals to a user interface device over a local area network (LAN) and for receiving digital audio signals from the user interface device;

a voice packet module configured to;

receive audio signals from the client communications module and encapsulate the audio signals into data packets; and

convert data packets into audio signals and transmit the audio signals to the client communications module; and

a network protocol module for transmitting data packets between the voice packet module and an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the client communications module is configured to register as a service for the LAN.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the client communications module is configured to direct telephone calls from the network protocol module directed to any of a plurality of user interface devices and, in response to receiving a telephone call from the network protocol module for an identified user interface device, to locate the identified user interface device on the LAN.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the client communications module is further configured to direct audio signals associated with the telephone call to the identified user interface device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a telephony signaling module coupled for receiving call control information from the client communications module and the network protocol module.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the client communications module is further configured to:

receive a telephone call from the network protocol module directed to an identified user interface device; and

if the identified user interface device is not available to receive the telephone call, to transmit an audio message to an audio device on the LAN.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the client communications module is further configured to:

receive a registration from a user interface device; and

identify a location of the user interface device to a VoIP gateway.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless interface for communicating with the user interface device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the voice packet module is further configured to;

convert data packets into video signals and transmit the video signals to the client communications module.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the voice packet module is further configured to;

receive video signals from the client communications module and encapsulate the video signals into data packets.

11. A communications device, comprising:

a microphone;

a speaker;

a user input device;

a network interface for coupling the communications device to a local area network (LAN);

an audio processing module comprising an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting analog audio signals from the microphone into a digital audio signal and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for converting a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal, said analog signal being output by the speaker; and

an endpoint communications module for connecting to a telephony adapter on the LAN via the network interface, said endpoint communications module communicating digital audio signals with the telephony adapter over the LAN.

12. The communications device of claim 11, wherein:

said endpoint communications module is further configured to locate a first telephony adapter on the LAN, and if the first telephony adapter is not available to complete a telephone call, to locate a second telephony adapter on the LAN and to communicate digital audio signals with the second telephony adapter over the LAN.

13. The communications device of claim 11, wherein:

said network interface comprises a wireless network interface.

14. The communications device of claim 11, further comprising:

a video display, wherein said endpoint communications module is configured to receive digital video signals from the telephony adapter over the LAN.

15. The communications device of claim 14, further comprising:

a video display, wherein said endpoint communications module is configured to receive digital video signals from the telephony adapter over the LAN.

16. A voice over IP (VoIP) communications system, comprising:

a VoIP module for terminating a VoIP call;

a client communications module for transmitting digital audio signals to a user interface device over a local area network (LAN) and for receiving digital audio signals from the user interface device; and

an audio processing module configured to;

receive audio signals from the client communications module and encapsulate the audio signals into data packets to be transmitted by the VoIP module; and

convert data packets from the VoIP module into audio signals and transmit the audio signals to the client communications module.

17. A packet-based communications method, comprising:

establishing a communications session over an Internet Protocol (IP) network between a telephony adapter and a target device;

receiving digital audio signals at the telephony adapter from a user interface device via a local area network (LAN);

encapsulating the audio signals into data packets; and

transmitting the data packets to the target device via the IP network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the communications session comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone call.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving incoming data packets from the target device via the IP network;

converting the incoming data packets into digital audio signals; and

transmitting the digital audio signals to the user interface device.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a VoIP telephone call from the IP network for an identified user interface device;

locating the identified user interface device on the LAN; and

terminating the VoIP telephone using the telephony adapter.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

directing audio signals associated with the VoIP telephone call to the identified user interface device.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a registration from the user interface device; and

identifying a location of the user interface device to a VoIP gateway.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said receiving digital audio signals at the telephony adapter from the user interface device comprises receiving digital audio signals via a wireless interface.

24. A packet-based communications system, comprising:

a client communications module for transmitting digital audio signals to a user interface device over a local area network (LAN) and for receiving digital audio signals from the user interface device;

a means for receiving audio signals from the client communications module and encapsulate the audio signals into data packets; and

a means for converting data packets into audio signals and transmitting the audio signals to the client communications module; and

a means for transmitting data packets between the voice packet module and an Internet Protocol (IP) network; and

25. A communications device, comprising:

a microphone;

a speaker;

a user input device;

a means for interfacing with a local area network (LAN);

a means for audio processing comprising an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting analog audio signals from the microphone into a digital audio signal and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for converting a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal, said analog signal being output by the speaker; and

a means for connecting to a telephony adapter on the LAN via the means for interfacing with a LAN and communicating digital audio signals with the telephony adapter over the LAN.

26. The communications device of claim 25, wherein:

said means for connecting and communicating is further configured to locate a first telephony adapter on the LAN, and if the first telephony adapter is not available to complete a telephone call, to locate a second telephony adapter on the LAN and to communicate digital audio signals with the second telephony adapter over the LAN.