ISDN terminal adapter with teleconference provision

• US 4,998,243 A
• Filed: 10/10/1989
• Issued: 03/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Racal-Datacom, Inc. (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Racal Data Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Kao, Ming-Luh
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US07/419,234
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 370/62, 370/110.1, 370/85.1, 370/60, 178/71 R, 178/71 B, 379/157, 379/158, 379/201, 379/202, 379/229, 379/230, 379/94, 379/96, 379/203, 379/204, 379/93
• US Class Current: 370/264
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/561 by multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/568 audio processing specific to telephonic conferencing, e.g. spatial distribution, mixing of participants echo suppression in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/02; sound field processing per se H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0471 Terminal access circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13306 Ferro-electric elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/24 Conference circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/298 Loop or ring system

Abstract

A device for providing teleconference capabilities in an ISDN includes a first receiver for receiving a first signal representing a first message over a first ISDN B-channel. A second receiver receives a second signal representing a second message over a second ISDN B-channel. A receive mixer mixes the first signal with the second signal to produce a receive mixed signal. A local receiver receives a local signal representing a local message to be transmitted over the first and second ISDN B-channel. A first transmit mixer mixes the first signal with the local signal to produce a first transmit mixed signal. A first transmitter transmits the first transmit mixed signal over the second ISDN B-channel. A second transmit mixer mixes the second signal with the local signal to produce a second transmit mixed signal. A second transmitter transmits the second transmit mixed signal over the first ISDN B-channel.

Claims

1. A device for providing conference capabilities in an ISDN, comprising in combination:

first receiving means for receiving a first signal representing a first message transmitted by a first terminal means over a first ISDN logical B-channel;

second receiving means for receiving a second signal representing a second message transmitted by a second terminal means over a second ISDN logical B-channel;

receive mixing means coupled to said first and second receiving means for mixing said first signal with said second signal to produce a receive mixed signal;

local receiving means for receiving a local signal representing a local message to be transmitted over said first and second ISDN logical B-channel to said first and second terminal means;

first transmit mixing means for mixing said first signal with said local signal to produce a first transmit mixed signal;

first transmitting means for transmitting said first transmit mixed signal over said second ISDN logical B-channel to said second terminal means;

second transmit mixing means for mixing said second signal with said local signal to produce a second transmit mixed signal; and

second transmitting means for transmitting said second transmit mixed signal over said first ISDN logical B-channel to said first terminal means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second messages include voice messages.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receive mixing means includes means for performing a binary addition.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first transmit mixing means includes means for performing a binary addition.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second transmit mixing means includes means for performing a binary addition.

6. A device for providing teleconference capabilities in an ISDN, comprising in combination:

first receiving means for receiving a fist voice signal representing a first voice message transmitted by a first voice terminal over a first ISDN logical B-channel;

second receiving means for receiving a second voice signal representing a second voice message transmitted by a first voice terminal over a second ISDN logical B-channel;

receive mixing means coupled to said first and second receiving means for mixing said first voice signal with said second voice signal to produce a receive mixed signal;

local receiving means for receiving a local voice signal representing a local voice message to be transmitted over said first and second ISDN logical B-channel to said first and second voice terminal;

first transmit mixing means for mixing said first voice signal with said local voice signal to produce a first transmit mixed signal;

first transmitting means for transmitting said first transmit mixed signal to said second voice terminal over said second ISDN logical B-channel;

second transmit mixing means for mixing said second voice signal with said local voice signal to produce a second transmit mixed signal; and

second transmitting means for transmitting said second transmit mixed signal to said first voice terminal over said first ISDN logical B-channel.

7. A method of implementing a conference call in an ISDN, comprising the steps of:

providing a first terminal adapter with access to first and second communication channels, said first terminal adapter being coupled to a first source of information which produces said first information;

creating a logical connection to a second terminal adapter over said first communication channel, said second terminal adapter being coupled to a second source of information which produced second information;

creating a logical connection to a third terminal adapter over said second communication channel, said third terminal adapter being coupled to a third source of information which produces third information;

mixing said second information received over said first communication channel with said first information;

transmitting said mixed second and first information over said second communication channel to said third terminal adapter;

mixing said third information received over said second communication channel with said first information;

transmitting said mixed third and first information over said first communication channel to said second terminal adapter; and

mixing said second and third information received over said first and second communication channels respectively together and providing said mixed second and third information to said first source of information.