System and method for transmitting aural information between a computer and telephone equipment
First Claim
1. A method for transmitting aural signals across a wide area digital data network and a target phone system, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first aural signal having a first configuration, said first aural signal representing a voice signal;
converting said first aural signal into a first data signal having a first network configuration that can be transmitted through a first local area network including the steps of;
converting said first aural signal to a digital signal;
generating first and second data transmission unit signals, having said first network configuration, from said digital signal, said first data transmission unit signal includes;
a first voice unit signal; and
a correction unit signal including a representation of a second voice unit signal from a second data transmission unit signal, transmitted separately from a first data transmission unit signal, said correction unit signal for recreating said second data transmission unit signal if not received by said destination converter;
wherein said first data signal represents said first data transmission unit signal;
transmitting said first data signal to a first communication device through said first local area network;
transmitting said first data signal from said first communication device to a second communication device in a second local area network through the wide area digital data network;
transmitting said first data signal to a destination converter through said second local area network;
converting said first data signal to a second data signal that is compatible with the target phone system; and
transmitting said second data signal from said destination converter to a first receiver via the target phone system;
wherein said steps of receiving a first aural signal and converting said first aural signal are performed by a PC-phone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for transmitting aural signals across a wide area network (WAN) from a local phone coupled to a computer, e.g., a PC-phone, to a remote phone coupled to a KTS, PBX, or PSTN, for example. This capability is provided by the gateway unit of the present invention. The system of the present invention is quickly installed in a server or a personal computer coupled to a local area network. The system is connected to one or more of a PSTN, a private branch exchange, a key telephone system, a telephone, a facsimile machine, and a modem. In the case of voice transmission, a gateway unit translates received telephony signal into a format that is compatible with the telephone system or equipment connected thereto. The present invention can provide a voice quality that approaches, equals, or exceeds the voice quality of conventional telephone switched networks. This high voice quality is achieved by utilizing a high quality voice digitization algorithm on both the PC-phone and the gateway, by ensuring a low maximum network delay between the PC-phone and the gateway, by permitting a dynamic compensation for variations in network delay, and by utilizing a forward error correction technique for transmission over WANs that can recreate lost or delayed signals in a manner that recreates the signal so the lost signal is typically not detectable by a user.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A method for transmitting aural signals across a wide area digital data network and a target phone system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first aural signal having a first configuration, said first aural signal representing a voice signal; converting said first aural signal into a first data signal having a first network configuration that can be transmitted through a first local area network including the steps of; converting said first aural signal to a digital signal; generating first and second data transmission unit signals, having said first network configuration, from said digital signal, said first data transmission unit signal includes; a first voice unit signal; and a correction unit signal including a representation of a second voice unit signal from a second data transmission unit signal, transmitted separately from a first data transmission unit signal, said correction unit signal for recreating said second data transmission unit signal if not received by said destination converter; wherein said first data signal represents said first data transmission unit signal; transmitting said first data signal to a first communication device through said first local area network; transmitting said first data signal from said first communication device to a second communication device in a second local area network through the wide area digital data network; transmitting said first data signal to a destination converter through said second local area network; converting said first data signal to a second data signal that is compatible with the target phone system; and transmitting said second data signal from said destination converter to a first receiver via the target phone system; wherein said steps of receiving a first aural signal and converting said first aural signal are performed by a PC-phone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for transmitting aural signals across a local area network, a wide area digital data network, and a target phone system, comprising:
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a PC phone including a first aural receiver for receiving a first aural signal having a first configuration, said first aural signal representing a voice signal; and a first converter, disposed to receive signals from said first aural receiver, for converting said first aural signal into a first data signal having a first network configuration that can be transmitted through a first local area network including; a second converter for converting said first aural signal to a digital signal; and a transmission unit generator, disposed to receive said digital signal, for generating first and second data transmission unit signals, having said first network configuration, from said digital signal, said first data transmission unit signal including a first voice unit signal and a first correction unit signal including a representation of a second voice unit signal from a second data transmission unit signal, transmitted separately from said first data transmission unit signal, said correction unit signal for recreating said second voice unit signal if not received by said destination converter, wherein first data signal represents a first data transmission unit signal; a first local network transmitter, disposed to receive signals from said first converter, for transmitting said first data signal onto said first local area network; first and second communication devices, said first communication device disposed to receive signals from said first local network transmitter, for transmitting said first data signal to said second communication device in a second local area network through the wide area digital data network, said second communication device for transmitting said first data signal through said second local area network; and said destination converter, disposed to receive signals from said second communication device, for converting said first data signal to a second data signal that is compatible with the target phone system and for transmitting said second data signal through the target phone system to a first receiver. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for communications, comprising:
a conversion unit, disposed to receive an aural signal, including; a converter for converting said aural signal to a digital signal; and a transmission unit generator, disposed to receive said digital signal, for generating a plurality of data transmission unit signals from said digital signal, each of said data transmission unit signals capable of being transmitted via a network and including an aural unit signal and a correction unit signal, said correction unit signal including a representation of the aural unit signal from another of said data transmission unit signals, said correction unit signal for recreating the aural unit signal of said another data transmission unit signal, if not received by a destination converter. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A communications method, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an aural signal; converting said aural signal into a digital signal; and generating a plurality of data transmission unit signals from said digital signal, each of said data transmission unit signals capable of being transmitted via a network and including an aural unit signal and a correction unit signal, said correction unit signal including a representation of said aural unit signal from another of said transmission unit signals, said correction unit signal for recreating said aural unit signal of said another data transmission unit signal, if not received by a destination converter. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification