Synchronous packet voice/data communication system
First Claim
1. A communications network for communicating digitized voice and data in separate and distinct packets, said network comprising:
- a digital communications medium having at least a first node and a second node, said digital communications medium being operative to communicate standardized bit synchronous digital time frames of information according to a standardized bit synchronous communications format having a predetermined bit synchronous framing structure; and
means for coupling digital signals bit synchronously to said digital communications medium at said first node, said coupling means including means for packetizing signals into digitized information packets, each said digitized information packet having a packet format which is self contained as to destination and content and which conforms bit synchronously to said bit synchronous communications format and to boundaries of said standardized bit synchronous digital time frames such that packets are communicated from said first node to said second node bit synchronously with reference to said communications medium within said standardized bit synchronous communications format such that an additional framing structure is not needed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A packet communications network and apparatus for communicating information in voice and data packets transmits and receives voice and data in accordance with standardized frames of a standardized communications format such as a standard DS-1 type trunk. An apparatus is coupled to multiplex standardized channels into a single channel wherein voice or data signals are packetized into independently addressable packets synchronized on, for example, the DS-1 frame. The network includes voice and packet data concentration apparatus operable in a multiple node trunk environment to concentrate signals into independently addressable synchronously switchable packets, thereby to provide an efficient (high density capacity) interface between trunk terminations. Up to four times as much information can be transferred between nodes with the ability to switch between nodes as compared to conventional TDM and PCM communication without compression without the ability to switch between nodes.
244 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A communications network for communicating digitized voice and data in separate and distinct packets, said network comprising:
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a digital communications medium having at least a first node and a second node, said digital communications medium being operative to communicate standardized bit synchronous digital time frames of information according to a standardized bit synchronous communications format having a predetermined bit synchronous framing structure; and means for coupling digital signals bit synchronously to said digital communications medium at said first node, said coupling means including means for packetizing signals into digitized information packets, each said digitized information packet having a packet format which is self contained as to destination and content and which conforms bit synchronously to said bit synchronous communications format and to boundaries of said standardized bit synchronous digital time frames such that packets are communicated from said first node to said second node bit synchronously with reference to said communications medium within said standardized bit synchronous communications format such that an additional framing structure is not needed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. For use in a communications network for communicating data and voice in separate and distinct information packets, including voice packets and data packets, through a bit synchronous digital communications medium, an apparatus for coupling digital signals to said communications medium comprising:
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a multiplexing bus, said multiplexing bus including a clock line for synchronizing said information packets; a multiplexing bus controller coupled to said multiplexing bus and operative to generate a clock signal said clock line to control switching of said information packets, said information packets comprising independently addressable digital data conforming to a standardized bit synchronous time frame and a standardized bit synchronous communications format having a predetermined bit synchronous framing structure; means for packetizing signals into digitized information packets, each said digitized information packet having a packet format which is self-contained as to destination and content and which conforms to boundaries of said standardized bit synchronous time frame; and first digital communications means coupled to said multiplexing bus for transmitting said information packets to said bit synchronous digital communications medium and for receiving said information packets from said bit synchronous digital communications medium, said first digital communications means being operative to communicate said information packets bit synchronously according to said standardized bit synchronous communications format such that an additional framing structure is not needed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. For use in a communications network for communicating data and voice in separate and distinct information packets, including voice packets and data packets, through a bit synchronous digital communications medium, an apparatus for coupling digital signals to said communications medium comprising:
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a multiplexing bus, said multiplexing bus including a clock line for synchronizing said information packets; a multiplexing bus controller coupled to said multiplexing bus and operative to generate a clock signal on said clock line to control switching of said information packets, said information packets comprising independently addressable digital data conforming to a standardized bit synchronous time frame and a standardized bit synchronous communications format; means coupled to said multiplexing bus for compressing voice signals and for decompressing voice signals; means for packetizing signals into digitized information packets, each said digitized information packet having a packet format which is self-contained as to destination and content and which conforms to boundaries of said standardized bit synchronous time frame; and first digital communications means coupled to said multiplexing bus for transmitting said information packets to said bit synchronous digital communications medium and for receiving said information packets from said bit synchronous digital communications medium, said first digital communications means being operative to communicate said information packets bit synchronously according to said standardized bit synchronous communications format, wherein said voice packets are dropped in the event of over capacity operation of said communications medium.
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Specification