Hierarchical Data Collection Network Supporting Packetized Voice Communications Among Wireless Terminals And Telephones
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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.
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Citations
66 Claims
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1-21. -21. (canceled)
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22. An information transmission device for communicatively coupling at least one packet network to at least one communication network having an associated information format, the device comprising:
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at least one packet interface for communicating information via the at least one packet network; at least one network interface, each of the at least one network interface for communicating information via one of the at least one communication network in the associated information format; at least one converter for selectively converting information received by one of the at least one packet interface for transmission via one of the at least one network interface in the associated information format, and for selectively converting for transmission via the one of the at least one packet interface information received from the one of the at least one network interface in the associated format; and a host interface supporting the communication of status and control information between the information transmission device and a host device compatible with the host interface, the host interface permitting management of the information transmission device by the host device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. One or more circuits for an information transmission device that communicatively couples a first of a plurality of communication networks to a second of the plurality of communication networks, the first and second communication networks having respective first and second information formats, the one or more circuits comprising:
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network interface circuitry operable to communicate information via the first communication network and to communicate information via the second communication network; host interface circuitry operable to communicate control and status information with an intelligent host device separate from the information transmission device; at least one processor operably coupled to the network interface circuitry and to the host interface circuitry, the at least one processor operable to, at least; send status information to the host device, the status information comprising signaling information received via the first communication network and/or the second communication network; receive control information from the host device; and configure the information transmission device, according to the control information, to cause the information transmission device to convert information received from the first communication network in the first information format for transmission over the second communication network in the second information format, and to convert information received from the second communication network in the second information format for transmission over the first communication network in the first information format. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification