Telecommunications system and method for use on commercial aircraft and other vehicles

• US 5,568,484 A
• Filed: 12/22/1994
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Margis, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US08/363,228
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 370/58.1, 370/58.2, 370/58.3, 370/60, 370/61, 370/79, 370/85.1, 370/85.4, 370/85.5, 370/85.12, 370/85.13, 370/85.14, 370/85.15, 370/94.1, 370/94.3, 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/93, 379/94, 379/101, 348/8, 348/10, 348/13, 348/14, 348/15, 348/836, 348/837, 455/2, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.3, 340/825.05, 340/825.06, 340/825.08, 340/825.5, 340/825.51, 340/825.07, 340/825.22, 340/825.28, 340/825.29, 364/424.01, 364/424.03, 364/424.04, 364/424.05, 364/424.1, 395/200, 395/325
• US Class Current: 370/452
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/433 with asynchronous transmission, e.g. token ring, register insertion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/64 Hybrid switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/02 involving a common line for all parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A telecommunications system and method for use on aircraft and other vehicles. One or more token ring local area networks are utilized to provide a telecommunications link between a plurality of telephone units and a telephone data signal router circuit which, in turn, is coupled to a CEPT E1 bus and provides telecommunications data signals over the CEPT E1 bus to a cabin telecommunications unit.

Claims

1. A method for distributing telecommunications voice data within an aircraft or other vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

generating an analog audio voice signal;

converting said analog audio voice signal to a digital data signal;

separating said digital data signal into a plurality of bytes of digital audio data and storing said digital audio data bytes in a first memory;

retrieving sets of said digital audio data bytes from said first memory and delivering Said sets of said digital audio data bytes to a first local area network;

transmitting said sets of said digital audio data bytes over said first local area network to a first telephone data routing circuit;

storing said sets of said digital audio data bytes in a second memory electronically coupled to said first telephone data routing circuit;

retrieving said sets of said digital audio data bytes from said second memory and delivering said sets of said digital audio data bytes to a second local area network;

transmitting said sets of said digital audio data bytes over said second local area network to a second telephone data routing circuit;

storing said sets of said digital audio data bytes in a third memory electronically coupled to said second telephone data routing circuit;

retrieving said sets of said digital audio data bytes from said third memory, formatting said sets of digital audio data bytes for transmission over a serial data communications bus; and

delivering said sets of said digital audio data bytes to said serial data communications bus for transmission to a cabin telecommunications unit.

2. The method of claim 5 wherein said first and second local area networks comprise token ring local area networks and operate accordance with IEEE standard 802.5 protocol, and wherein said serial data communications bus comprises a CEPT E1 bus.

3. A method for distributing telecommunications voice data within an aircraft or other vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

generating an analog audio voice signal;

converting said analog audio voice signal to a digital data signal;

separating said digital data signal into bytes of digital audio data and storing said bytes of digital audio data in a first memory;

retrieving sets of said digital audio data bytes from said first memory and delivering said sets of said digital audio data bytes to a local area network;

transmitting said sets of said digital audio data bytes over said local area network to a telephone data routing circuit;

storing said sets of said digital audio data bytes in a second memory electronically coupled to said telephone data routing circuit;

retrieving said sets of said digital audio data bytes from said second memory, formatting said sets of digital audio data bytes for transmission over a serial data communications bus; and

delivering said sets of said digital audio data bytes to said serial data communications bus for transmission to a cabin telecommunications unit.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said local area network is a token ring local area network and operates in accordance with IEEE standard 802.5 protocol, and wherein said serial data communications bus is a CEPT E1 bus.