Hierarchical Data Collection Network Supporting Packetized Voice Communications Among Wireless Terminals And Telephones

• US 20100260063A1
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Michael D., Kubler, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US12/759,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20100260063A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/253
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10841 Particularities of the light-sensitive elements semiconductor devices H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 3/0908 using a phase locked loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1615 Switching on; Switching off, e.g. remotely battery saving circuits associated with selective call operation H04W52/00; details of power consumption reduction in a PLL, H03L7/0802, H03L7/14, H03L2207/08, H03L2207/18; muting amplifiers by gain control see H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0802 using antenna selection H04B7/0868 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 : by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 : by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 : Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0032 : Without explicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1671 : the supervisory signal being transmitted together with control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 : the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/12 : Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/14 : Demodulator circuits; Receiver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/156 : with demodulation using temporal properties of the received signal, e.g. detecting pulse width
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 : Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/48 : Routing tree calculation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 : Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 : in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 : in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 : Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 : In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 : Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 : Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 : Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 : adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 : including a card reading device
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 : using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 : Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 : managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 : TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/38 : TPC being performed in particular situations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 : in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 : Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 : Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 : Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

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.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of code sections, each code section comprising a plurality of instructions executable by a processor, the instructions causing the processor to perform a method of operating a portable terminal device that supports voice and data communication via a wireless packet network, the method comprising:

producing outgoing digital voice packets from a converted first analog voice stream, wherein the outgoing digital voice packets comprise destination information used for routing the outgoing digital voice packets through the wireless packet network;

assembling digital data into outgoing data packets;

evaluating a message wirelessly received from at least one access device, and sending to the at least one access device an indication of a data rate based on the evaluation;

receiving from the wireless packet network digital voice packets and data packets;

transmitting the outgoing digital voice packets and the outgoing data packets via the wireless packet network at a data rate selected by the at least one access device based upon the indication of a data rate;

reproducing digital data from the received data packets, and reproducing sound from a second analog voice stream converted from the received digital voice packets; and

wherein the outgoing digital voice packets, the outgoing data packets, the received digital voice packets, and the received data packets are units of information transmitted as a whole from one device to another over the wireless packet network.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the wireless packet network uses an Internet protocol (IP).

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein the Internet protocol is the transmission control protocol (TCP)/Internet protocol (IP) protocol.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the wireless packet network communicates at a frequency of approximately 2.4 gigahertz.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using a frequency hopping spread spectrum technique.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using a direct sequence spread spectrum technique.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein conversion of the first analog voice stream to the outgoing digital voice packets comprises:

converting the first analog voice stream to digital voice data; and

assembling the digital voice data to produce the outgoing digital voice packets.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein conversion of the received digital voice packets to the second analog voice stream comprises:

extracting digital voice data from the received digital voice packets; and

converting the extracted digital voice data to produce the second analog voice stream.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the data packets are not used for the management of voice calls.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein a packet is transmitted via the wireless packet network without regard to whether the packet is a data packet or a digital voice packet.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the indication of a data rate is a data rate.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the evaluated message is received periodically from the at least one access device.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33 wherein the message received periodically is a polling message.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein evaluating a message evaluates reception of a message preamble.

36. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of code sections, each code section comprising a plurality of instructions executable by a processor, the instructions causing the processor to perform a method of operating an access device that supports voice and data communication via a wireless packet network, the method comprising:

receiving digital voice packets and data packets from the wireless packet network, wherein at least the digital voice packets comprise destination information used for routing the digital voice packets through the wireless packet network;

transmitting digital voice packets and data packets to the wireless packet network;

individually routing digital voice packets received from one of at least one wired network for transmission via the wireless packet network, and for individually routing digital voice packets received from the wireless packet network for transmission via the one of the at least one wired network, the one of the at least one wired network being based upon destination information in the digital voice packets;

receiving, from a terminal device via the wireless packet network, an indication of a data rate based on an evaluation of a message sent by the access device;

selecting a data rate for transmitting the digital voice packets and the data packets to the terminal device via the wireless packet network, based upon the indication of a data rate; and

wherein the digital voice packets, the data packets, the received digital voice packets, and the received data packets are units of information transmitted as a whole from one device to another over the wireless packet network.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the wireless packet network communicates at a frequency of approximately 2.4 gigahertz.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using a frequency hopping spread spectrum technique.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using a direct sequence spread spectrum technique.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using an Internet protocol (IP).

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 40 wherein the Internet protocol is the transmission control protocol (TCP)/Internet protocol (IP).

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the at least one wired network comprises a conventional switched telephone network.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the at least one wired network comprises an Ethernet network.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the routing is based upon information received via the wireless packet network.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the routing is based upon a cost of use of a communication path.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the indication of a data rate is a data rate.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the evaluated message is sent periodically by the at least one access device.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 47 wherein the message sent periodically is a polling message.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein evaluating a message evaluates reception of a message preamble.

50. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of code sections, each code section comprising a plurality of instructions executable by a processor, the instructions causing the processor to perform a method of operating a portable terminal device that supports voice and data communication via a wireless packet network, the method comprising:

packetizing data representative of sound to outgoing digital voice packets;

assembling digital data into outgoing data packets;

sending the outgoing digital voice packets and the outgoing data packets to at least one access device via the wireless packet network;

receiving incoming digital voice packets and incoming data packets from the at least one access device via the wireless packet network at a selected data rate;

evaluating a message wirelessly received from the at least one access device;

transmitting to the at least one access device an indication of a data rate based upon the evaluation;

depacketizing the incoming digital voice packets for conversion to sound;

wherein the outgoing digital voice packets, the outgoing data packets, the incoming digital voice packets, and the incoming data packets are units of information transmitted as a whole from one device to another over the wireless packet network; and

wherein the at least one access device selects the selected data rate, based upon the indication of a data rate.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 wherein the wireless packet network communicates at a frequency of approximately 2.4 gigahertz.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using a frequency hopping spread spectrum technique.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using a direct sequence spread spectrum technique.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using an Internet protocol.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 wherein the Internet protocol comprises transmission control protocol (TCP) over Internet protocol (IP).

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 wherein the data packets are not used for the management of voice calls.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 56 wherein a packet is transmitted via the wireless packet network without regard to whether the packet is a data packet or a digital voice packet.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 wherein the indication of a data rate is a data rate.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 wherein the evaluated message is received periodically from the at least one access device.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 59 wherein the message received periodically is a polling message.

61. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 wherein evaluating a message evaluates reception of a message preamble.