Systems and methods for multiple mode voice and data communications using intelligenty bridged TDM and packet buses and methods for performing telephony and data functions using the same

• US 6,154,465 A
• Filed: 10/06/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vertical Networks Incorporated (Vertical Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pickett, Scott K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/167,408
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 370/465, 370/466, 370/473, 370/474, 370/458, 370/395, 370/438, 370/401, 370/439, 370/352, 370/440, 370/489, 370/490, 379/220, 379/225, 379/250
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2881 IP/Ethernet DSLAM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/43 with synchronous transmission, e.g. time division multiplex [TDM], slotted rings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6459 Multiplexing, e.g. TDMA, CDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6472 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6481 Speech, voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2061 : Language aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2254 : in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 : in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 : PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 : Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 : Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 : Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 : Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 : for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 : A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 : involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur in multiple modes/protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided for multiple native mode/protocol voice and data transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub and data router. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system. A computer or other processor includes a local area network controller, which provides routing and hub(s) for one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to a buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from the computer from TDM bus. The buffer/framer includes a plurality of framer/deframer engines, supporting, for example, ATM and HDLC framing/deframing. The buffer/framer is coupled to the TDM bus by way of a switch/multiplexer, which includes the capability to intelligently map data traffic between the buffer/framer and the TDM bus to various slots of the TDM frames. Preferably, a DSP pool is coupled to buffer/framer in a manner to provide various signal processing and telecommunications support, such as dial tone generation, DTMF detection and the like. The TDM bus is coupled to a various line/station cards, serving to interface the TDM bus with telephone, facsimiles and other telecommunication devices, and also with a various digital and/or analog WAN network services.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a host processor;

at least one time division multiplex (TDM) bus coupled to the host processor and coupled to communicate over a wide area network (WAN) coupled to the communication system, wherein a plurality of telephony devices for initiating or receiving voice communications are coupled to the TDM bus;

at least a first packet bus adapted for communication with one or more computing devices coupled to the communication system;

a local area network (LAN) bus coupled between the host processor and the first packet bus;

a bridge circuit bridging between the LAN bus and the TDM bus;

wherein in a first control state packetized data from the first packet bus is coupled to the TDM bus via the LAN bus and the bridge circuit.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the bridge circuit comprises a bridge reading and filtering data packets to or from the first packet bus.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the bridge circuit comprises a router determining a communication path for a packetized data communication.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the bridge circuit comprises:

a central processing unit; and

a transfer control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) control unit coupled to the central processing unit.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the host processor selectively determines the first control state or a second control state for a packetized data communication over the first packet bus, wherein in the second control state packetized data from the first packet bus is coupled to the TDM bus via the host processor and a buffer and framer unit coupled between the host processor and the TDM bus.

6. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising an interface card coupled to the TDM bus and the packet bus, wherein in a third control state packetized data from the packet bus is transferred to the TDM bus via the interface card.

7. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a second packet bus coupled to the LAN bus, wherein the host processor controls bridging between the first and second packet buses over the LAN bus.

8. The communication system of claim 5, wherein the host processor comprises hardware and software selectively allocating resources within the communication system, wherein the host processor determines communications paths within the communication system and over the WAN for processing data and voice communications based on predetermined rules.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the rules selectively allocate resources within the communication system as a function of time of day, resource availability over the WAN, type of communication and/or usage patterns.