Single-wiring network for integrated voice and data communications
First Claim
1. An apparatus connecting at least one data based apparatus and at least one speech based communications apparatus in a local area network through a single communications line comprising:
- a data switch selectably electrically interconnecting said at least one data based apparatus to a data wide area network; and
a telephony computer interface selectably electrically interconnected to said data switch and electrically interconnected to a PBX, said data switch configured to selectably electrically interconnect said at least one speech based communications apparatus to said PBX routing telephone signals outside said local area network, said telephony computer interface converting telephone signals from said PBX into LAN packet data and transmitting said LAN packet data selectively to one of said at least one data based apparatus and said at least one speech based communications apparatus and said telephony computer interface converting LAN packet information into one of voice data and digital data and transmitting said voice data to said PBX for transmission to a public switch telephone network, and transmitting said digital data through said data switch to said data wide area network.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated network for connecting both telephones and personal computers within an organization, using a single wiring connection is disclosed. Telephones and personal computers within the organization are connected to the same local area network (LAN) which is in turn connected to a telephony-computer interface (TCI). The TCI is also connected to telephone lines. The TCI forms an interface between telephone line communications and data packets for real time communications. In this way, only one wiring connection, the local area network, need be installed to interconnect both telephones and personal computers, for both local and off-site communications.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus connecting at least one data based apparatus and at least one speech based communications apparatus in a local area network through a single communications line comprising:
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a data switch selectably electrically interconnecting said at least one data based apparatus to a data wide area network; and a telephony computer interface selectably electrically interconnected to said data switch and electrically interconnected to a PBX, said data switch configured to selectably electrically interconnect said at least one speech based communications apparatus to said PBX routing telephone signals outside said local area network, said telephony computer interface converting telephone signals from said PBX into LAN packet data and transmitting said LAN packet data selectively to one of said at least one data based apparatus and said at least one speech based communications apparatus and said telephony computer interface converting LAN packet information into one of voice data and digital data and transmitting said voice data to said PBX for transmission to a public switch telephone network, and transmitting said digital data through said data switch to said data wide area network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of routing telephonic voice data and computer data through a single communications line electrically connected to each of a plurality of data based and speech based communications apparatus which are part of a local area network to external data based and speech based communications apparatus comprising the steps of:
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sending an internal telephonic voice data and computer data as LAN packet information from each of said plurality of data based and speech based communications apparatus; receiving said LAN packet information at a telephony computer interface; converting said LAN packet information into telephonic voice data and computer data at said telephony computer interface, said step of converting said LAN packet information comprising the steps of, converting said LAN packet information into telephonic voice data and sending said telephonic voice data to a PBX for transmission over public switched telephone network to a calling party; and converting said LAN packet information into computer data and sending said computer data through a data switch to a data wide area network; sending said telephone voice data and computer data to an external data based or speech based communications apparatus; receiving external telephonic voice data and computer data at said telephony computer interface; converting external telephonic voice data and computer data into LAN packet information; and sending said LAN packet information to an internal data based or speech based communications apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A local area network for connecting a plurality of data based and speech based apparatus each through a single communications line to an outside communications network comprising:
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a patch panel electrically interconnected to said plurality of data based and speech based apparatus through local area network cables; a data switch electrically interconnected to said patch panel and selectably electrically connected to a data wide area network; a telephony computer interface selectably electrically interconnected to said data switch and electrically interconnected to a local PBX, said telephony computer interface converting telephonic voice data from said local PBX into LAN packet information and transmitting said LAN packet information through said data switch for routing through said patch panel to a selected one of said plurality of data based and speech based apparatus, said telephony computer interface converting LAN packet information into one of voice data and digital data and transmitting said voice data to said local PBX for transmission to a public switch telephone network, and transmitting said digital data through said data switch to said data wide area network.
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Specification