Systems and Methods for Providing a Home Network Conversion Interface

• US 20080317063A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ShoreTel Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Enzmann, Mark, Mahler, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 7,864,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/121 Details of network access arrangements or protocols

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided wherein an incoming plain old telephone systems (PSTN) signal is input into a home network conversion interface. The home network conversion interface first determines the data type of the incoming signal. Next, the home network conversion interface creates a routing sequence of the incoming signal based on the determined data type. Finally, the home network conversion interface converts the incoming signal into an 802.X format and sends the signal to an appropriate IP device based on the determined signal type. Should the home network conversion interface lose electrical power, a drop contactor routes the incoming signal directly to an analog device without creating a routing sequence or performing an 802.X conversion.

Claims

1. A method for operating a home network conversion interface, the method comprising:

receiving an analog signal;

sending a ring signal to a plurality of devices that are communicatively linked and in communication with the home network conversion interface;

detecting that one of the plurality of devices has been placed in an off-hook condition;

determining whether the off-hook device is a digital device or an analog device;

if the off-hook device is a digital device, converting the analog signal to a digital signal, formatting the digital signal into a packet-based 802.X signal, and routing the packet-based 802.X signal to the digital device; and

if the device is an analog device, sending the analog signal to the analog device.

2. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

bypassing the determining step if a loss of electrical power is detected and routing the analog signal to any of the plurality of devices that are analog devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the analog signal is received from a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

4. A home network conversion interface, comprising:

an input/output interface communicatively linked and in communication with a plurality of devices;

a smart router configured to;

receive an analog signal;

send a ring signal to each of the plurality of devices;

detect that one of the plurality of devices has been placed in an off-hook condition;

determine whether the off-hook device is a digital device or an analog device;

if the off-hook device is a digital device, route the analog signal to an analog-to-digital converter; and

if the off-hook device is an analog device, send the analog signal to the off-hook device;

the analog-to-digital converter configured to;

receive the analog signal from the smart router;

convert the analog signal to a digital signal; and

send the digital signal to a packet builder;

the packet builder configured to;

receive the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter;

format the digital signal into a packet-based 802.X signal; and

send the digital signal to the smart router for routing the packet-based 802.X signal to the off-hook device.

5. The home network conversion interface of claim 4, further comprising a drop contactor configured to route the analog signal to any of the plurality of devices that are analog devices if a loss of electrical power is detected.

6. The home network conversion interface of claim 4, further comprising a protocol parser configured to assure compliance of the packet-based 802.X signal with the off-hook device.

7. The home network conversion interface of claim 4, wherein the analog signal is received from a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

8. A method for operating a home network conversion interface, the method comprising:

determining a data type of the analog signal;

determining which of a plurality of routing sequences to use based upon the determined data type;

if the data type is intended for at least one analog device, routing the analog signal to the at least one analog device according to at least one of the plurality of routing sequences; and

if the data type is intended for at least one digital device, converting the analog signal to a digital signal, formatting the digital signal, and sending the formatted digital signal to the at least one digital device according to at least one of the plurality of routing sequence.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the data type comprises determining that the data type is one of a fax format, a data format, and a voice format.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the formatted digital signal to the at least one digital device comprises sending the formatted digital signal to the at least one digital device based upon the at least one digital device being placed in an off-hook condition.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein determining which of the plurality of routing sequences to use based upon the determined data type comprises selecting one of the plurality of routing sequences from a memory.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein determining which of the plurality of routing sequences to use based upon the determined data type comprises determining which of the plurality of routing sequences to use based upon the determined data type and settings stored in a memory.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the data type of the analog signal is based upon standard ring tones.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the data type of the analog signal is based upon Ring Master®

technology.

20. The home network conversion interface of claim 12, wherein the data type is one of a fax format, a data format, and a voice format.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the analog signal is received from a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

22. The method of claim 12, wherein sending the formatted digital signal to the at least one digital device comprises sending the formatted digital signal to the at least one digital device based upon the at least one digital device being placed in an off-hook condition.

15. A home network conversion interface, comprising:

an input/output interface communicatively linked and in communication with a plurality of devices;

an analog-to-digital converter;

a packet builder;

a smart router configured to;

receive an analog signal;

determine a data type of the analog signal;

determine which of a plurality of routing sequences to use based upon the determined data type; and

if the data type is intended for an analog device, route the analog signal to at least one of the plurality of devices that is analog according to the determined routing sequence;

if the data type is intended for a digital device, route the analog signal to the analog-to-digital converter according to the determined routing sequence;

the analog-to-digital converter configured to;

receive the analog signal from the smart router;

convert the analog signal to a digital signal; and

send the digital signal to the packet builder;

the packet builder configured to;

receive the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter;

format the digital signal into a packet-based 802.X signal; and

send the digital signal to the smart router for routing the packet-based 802.X signal to at least one of the plurality of devices that is digital according to the determined routing sequence.

16. The home network conversion interface of claim 15, further comprising a memory configured to store the plurality of routing sequences.

17. The home network conversion interface of claim 16, wherein the smart router is further configured to determine which of a plurality of routing sequences to use based upon the determined data type and settings stored in the memory.

18. The home network conversion interface of claim 15, wherein the smart router is further configured to determine the data type of the analog signal based upon standard ring tones.

19. The home network conversion interface of claim 15, wherein the smart router is further configured to determine the data type of the analog signal based upon Ring Master®

technology.