Virtual multiplexing of telephony lines

• US 5,949,765 A
• Filed: 03/12/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Deadman, Richard, Orchard, Pat
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchau Ba
• Application Number:
  US08/815,596
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 370/270, 370/271, 370/532, 370/535, 370/537, 370/538, 370/540, 375/260, 375/222, 379/93.07
• US Class Current: 370/271
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0021 Details of Application Programming Interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13149 Change of provider, e.g. network or service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54583 Software development, e.g. procedural, object oriented, software generation, software testing

Abstract

The present invention provides a multiplexor architecture and method that manipulates multiple telephony lines onto one virtual line which can then be monitored and controlled by an application on a desktop computer originally designed to handle only a single line. The multiplexor of the present invention provides transparent telephony line manipulation which to the telephony line manager, appears as a telephony service provider component. To the telephony service provider component, the present invention appears as the telephony line manager.

Claims

1. A method of controlling multiple telephony line signals on a computer from multiple service providers through a single telephony line application, the method comprising:

(a) receiving one or more telephony signals from one or more service providers;

(b) sending one or more service provider messages, each service provider message corresponding to one of said telephony signals from said service providers to a multiplexor through a first service provider interface;

(c) combining said telephony signals into a virtual signal;

(d) sending one or more secondary messages corresponding to said virtual signal from said multiplexor to a telephony line manager through a second service provider interface;

(e) sending one or more tertiary messages corresponding to said virtual signal from said telephony line manager to said single telephony line application through an application interface;

(f) processing said tertiary messages by said single telephony line application;

(g) sending one or more control messages from said single telephony line application to said telephony line manager corresponding to said virtual signal through said application interface;

(h) sending one or more secondary control messages corresponding to said virtual signal from said telephony line manager to said multiplexor through said second service provider interface;

(i) sending one or more tertiary control messages corresponding to said telephony signals from said multiplexor to each of said service providers through said first service provider interface;

(j) processing one of said telephony signals by said single telephony line application.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first service provider interface and said second service provider interface are Microsoft Telephony Service Provider Interfaces.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said application interface is a Microsoft Telephony Application Programmers Interface.

4. A method of controlling multiple telephony devices connected to a computer through a single telephony line application, the method comprising:

(a) receiving one or more telephony signals from one or more of said telephony devices;

(b) sending one or more device messages, each device message corresponding to one of said telephony signals from said one or more devices to a multiplexor through a first device interface;

(c) combining said telephony signals into a virtual signal;

(d) sending one or more secondary messages corresponding to said virtual signal from said multiplexor to a telephony line manager through a second device interface;

(e) sending one or more tertiary messages corresponding to said virtual signal from said telephony line manager to said single telephony line application through an application interface;

(f) processing said tertiary messages by said single telephony line application;

(g) sending one or more control messages from said single telephony line application to said telephony line manager corresponding to said virtual signal through said application interface;

(h) sending one or more secondary control messages corresponding to said virtual signal from said telephony line manager to said multiplexor through said second device interface;

(i) sending one or more tertiary control messages corresponding to said telephony signals from said multiplexor to each of said one or more devices through said first device interface;

(j) processing one of said telephony signals by said single telephony line application.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said first device interface and said second device interface are Microsoft Telephony Service Provider Interfaces.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said application interface is a Microsoft Telephony Application Programmers Interface.

7. A method of controlling multiple telephony line signals on a computer from multiple service providers through a single telephony line application, the method comprising:

(a) receiving one or more telephony signals from one or more service providers;

(b) sending one or more service provider messages, each service provider message corresponding to one of said telephony signals from said service providers to a telephony line manager through a service provider interface;

(c) sending one or more secondary messages each corresponding to said service provider message from said telephony line manager to a multiplexing application through an application interface;

(d) passing said secondary messages to a virtual service provider;

(e) combining said secondary messages into a virtual service provider message;

(f) combining said telephony signals into a virtual signal;

(g) sending said virtual service provider messages corresponding to said virtual signal from said virtual service provider to said telephony line manager through said service provider interface;

(h) sending one or more secondary virtual messages corresponding to said virtual signal from said telephony line manager to said single telephony line application through an application interface;

(i) processing said secondary virtual messages by said single telephony line application;

(j) sending one or more virtual control messages from said single telephony line application to said telephony line manager corresponding to said virtual signal through said application interface;

(k) sending one or more secondary virtual control messages corresponding to said virtual signal from said telephony line manager to said virtual service provider through said service provider interface;

(l) passing said secondary virtual control messages to said multiplexing application;

(m) sending one or more secondary control messages corresponding to said secondary virtual control signals from said multiplexing application to said telephony line manager through said application interface;

(n) sending one or more control messages corresponding to said secondary control messages from said telephony line manager to one or more said service providers through said service provider interface;

(o) processing one of said telephony signals by said single telephony line application.