Communication system topology providing dynamic allocation of B-channels
First Claim
1. A centralized Ethernet hub being adapted for use in a communications system including:
- (i) a TDM bus adapted for connection to one or more endpoint devices;
(ii) a TDM bus controller for providing a set of B-Channels comprised of a plurality of time-division multiplexed B-Channels on the TDM bus;
(iii) a passive bus for providing access to the set of B-Channels; and
(iv) a plurality of endpoint devices, each endpoint device including channel allocation request means coupled to at least one of the passive bus and the TDM bus for requesting one or more B-Channels from the set of B-Channels;
characterized in that the Ethernet hub provides;
(a) a control link for coupling the centralized Ethernet hub to the TDM bus controller;
(b) a plurality of Ethernet communication channels; and
(c) channel allocation means responsive to the channel allocation request means of an endpoint device to allocate one or more individual B-Channels of a single B-Channel set amongst a plurality of endpoint devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Communications systems and methods are directed to a novel communications platform which employs a TDM bus, a TDM bus controller, a passive Ethernet bus, and a centralized Ethernet hub to provide for the communication of data, voice, and/or video signals among a plurality of endpoint devices. The TDM bus controller provides a plurality of B-Channels on the TDM bus. The centralized Ethernet hub is coupled to the TDM bus controller via a control link. Each endpoint device is connected to at least one of the passive Ethernet bus and the TDM bus. The centralized Ethernet hub operates over the passive Ethernet bus to dynamically allocate one or more individual B-Channels of a single B-Channel set amongst a group of endpoint devices, such as telephone equipment, video communications equipment, processors, and/or computing devices. The centralized Ethernet hub provides a logical control channel to each endpoint device for call establishment. Each endpoint device is coupled to the logical control channel over at least one of a first path comprising the passive Ethernet bus and a second path comprising the TDM bus, the TDM bus controller, and the control link. The logical control channel executes B-channel seizure algorithms for establishment of communications to and from selected endpoint devices.
59 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A centralized Ethernet hub being adapted for use in a communications system including:
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(i) a TDM bus adapted for connection to one or more endpoint devices; (ii) a TDM bus controller for providing a set of B-Channels comprised of a plurality of time-division multiplexed B-Channels on the TDM bus; (iii) a passive bus for providing access to the set of B-Channels; and (iv) a plurality of endpoint devices, each endpoint device including channel allocation request means coupled to at least one of the passive bus and the TDM bus for requesting one or more B-Channels from the set of B-Channels; characterized in that the Ethernet hub provides; (a) a control link for coupling the centralized Ethernet hub to the TDM bus controller; (b) a plurality of Ethernet communication channels; and (c) channel allocation means responsive to the channel allocation request means of an endpoint device to allocate one or more individual B-Channels of a single B-Channel set amongst a plurality of endpoint devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A communications system comprising:
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(a) a TDM bus controller for providing a set of B-Channels comprised of a plurality of time-division multiplexed B-Channels on a TDM bus; (b) a centralized Ethernet hub for providing a plurality of Ethernet communication channels;
the Ethernet hub including channel allocation means responsive to a channel allocation request means of an endpoint device to allocate one or more individual B-Channels of the B-Channel set amongst a plurality of endpoint devices, and a centralized passive bus controller for controlling electronic communication on a passive Ethernet bus; and(c) a control link for coupling the centralized passive bus controller to the TDM bus controller; the communications system adapted for use in conjunction with; (i) an existing TDM bus adapted for connection to one or more endpoint devices; (ii) an existing passive Ethernet bus adapted for connection to one or more endpoint devices, and (iii) an existing plurality of endpoint devices, each endpoint device including channel allocation request means coupled to at least one of the passive Ethernet bus and the TDM bus for requesting one or more B-Channels from the set of B-Channels. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A communications system comprising:
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(a) a TDM bus adapted for connection to one or more endpoint devices; (b) a TDM bus controller for providing a set of B-Channels comprised of a plurality of time-division multiplexed B-Channels on the TDM bus; (c) a passive Ethernet bus adapted for connection to one or more endpoint devices; (d) a centralized Ethernet hub for providing a plurality of Ethernet communication channels; and (e) a control link for coupling the centralized Ethernet hub to the TDM bus controller; the centralized Ethernet hub including channel allocation means responsive to a channel allocation request means of the endpoint devices to allocate one or more individual B-Channels of a single B-Channel set amongst the plurality of endpoint devices;
the communications system adapted for use in conjunction with a plurality of endpoint devices, each endpoint device including channel allocation request means coupled to at least one of the passive Ethernet bus and the TDM bus for requesting one or more B-Channels from the set of B-Channels. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A communications system comprising:
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(a) a TDM bus adapted for connection to one or more endpoint devices; (b) time-division multiplex controller means for providing a plurality of time-division multiplexed B-Channels on the TDM bus; (c) centralized Ethernet hub means for providing a plurality of Ethernet communications channels; (d) a control link coupling the centralized Ethernet hub means to the TDM bus controller means; and (e) a B-channel bus for providing a plurality of time-division-multiplexed B-channels; the Ethernet hub, the TDM bus, the centralized Ethernet hub means, the control link, and the time-division multiplex controller means together comprising dynamic B-Channel allocation means for allocating a single B-Channel set consisting of a plurality of B-Channels among a plurality of endpoint devices such that the B-Channel set is shared among the plurality of endpoint devices;
the dynamic B-Channel allocation means being coupled to the B-Channel bus and capturing selected ones of said B-Channels in response to the channel allocation request means of an endpoint device for establishing a communications link between a plurality of endpoint devices;
the communications system adapted for use in conjunction with a plurality of endpoint devices, each endpoint device being adapted for connection to any of the Ethernet hub and the TDM bus;
at least one endpoint device including channel allocation request means coupled to the Ethernet hub for establishing a communications link between a plurality of endpoint devices. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A communications system comprising:
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(a) a TDM bus; (b) a TDM bus controller for providing a set of B-Channels comprised of a plurality of time-division multiplexed B-Channels on the TDM bus; (c) a passive Ethernet bus; (d) a centralized Ethernet hub for providing a plurality of Ethernet communication channels on the passive Ethernet bus; (e) a plurality of endpoint devices, each endpoint device including channel allocation request means coupled to at least one of the passive Ethernet bus and the TDM bus for requesting one or more B-Channels from the set of B-Channels; and (f) a control link for coupling the centralized Ethernet hub to the TDM bus controller; the centralized Ethernet hub including channel allocation means responsive to the channel allocation request means of the endpoint devices to allocate one or more individual B-Channels of a single B-Channel set amongst the plurality of endpoint devices.
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16. A communications system comprising:
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(a) a TDM bus; (b) a passive Ethernet bus; (c) a plurality of endpoint devices, each endpoint device being adapted for connection to any of the TDM bus and the passive Ethernet bus, at least one endpoint device including channel allocation request means coupled to the Ethernet bus for establishing a communications link between a plurality of endpoint devices; (d) time-division multiplex controller means for providing a plurality of time-division multiplexed B-Channels on the TDM bus; (e) centralized Ethernet hub means for providing a plurality of Ethernet communications channels on the Ethernet bus; and (f) a control link coupling the centralized Ethernet hub means to the TDM bus controller means; the TDM bus, the centralized Ethernet hub means, the control link, and the time-division multiplex controller means together comprising dynamic B-Channel allocation means for allocating a single B-Channel set consisting of a plurality of B-Channels among a plurality of endpoint devices such that the B-Channel set is shared among the plurality of endpoint devices;
the dynamic B-Channel allocation means being coupled to the B-Channel bus and capturing selected ones of said B-Channels in response to the channel allocation request means of an endpoint device for establishing a communications link between a plurality of endpoint devices. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification