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

• US 6,266,341 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vertical Networks Incorporated (Vertical Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Surprenant, Richard, Pickett, Scott K.
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/418,639
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 710/117, 710/124, 370/400, 370/401, 370/402, 370/352, 370/353, 370/532, 370/535, 370/537, 370/337, 370/347, 370/466, 370/521, 370/260, 370/294, 370/321, 370/477, 370/458, 370/498
• US Class Current: 370/458
• 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. In a system for managing voice and data communications of an office, the office having a plurality of computers coupled to the system over one or more packet buses and a plurality of telephones coupled to the system, wherein the system provides voice and data communications to a plurality of users in the office, wherein associated with each of at least certain users is at least one computer and at least one telephone, wherein the system is coupled to one or more telecommunications networks, a method comprising the steps of:

selectively coupling, under control of a processor in the system, data communications between a computer coupled to the system over one of the packet buses and the one or more telecommunications networks, wherein the data communications are coupled to the one or more telecommunications networks via at least one TDM bus in the system;

receiving one or more signals from a first telephone coupled to the system, wherein the telephone is coupled to the system via a telephone interface circuit or via the one or more telecommunications networks;

converting the one or more signals to a first data stream;

directing the first data stream to one or more particular channels of the TDM bus;

selectively coupling, under control of the processor, the first data stream via the TDM bus to a second telephone corresponding to a particular user or selectively coupling, under control of the processor, the first data stream via the TDM bus to a voice mail system for processing as a voice mail message for the particular user;

concurrently tapping into the first data stream with a digital signal processing resource (“

DSP”

) coupled to the TDM bus, wherein the DSP comprises one or more digital signal processors; and

processing the first data stream as a telephone call to the particular user or to the voice mail system while concurrently processing the call with the DSP.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the DSP processes the first data stream to convert speech in the first data stream to text.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the text is directed to the user as an electronic message.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the text is directed to the user as a data file.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the system includes an electronic mail server, wherein the text is directed to the user as an electronic mail message provided by the electronic mail server.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the text is transmitted to the particular user over the one or more packet buses.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the text is transmitted to the particular user over a wide area network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the DSP performs a voice or speech recognition process.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the DSP performs a facsimile or modem call detection process.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the DSP performs a data compression process.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the DSP performs a packetizing process, wherein the first data stream is processed to be transmitted in the form of one or more packets.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a predetermined set of users are defined so that first data streams for the predetermined set of users are automatically processed by the DSP.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined set of users have first data streams that are directed into voice mail and concurrently processed by the DSP.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the processing by the DSP converts the first data stream into a form that can be electronically transmitted to the predetermined set of users by a wide area network or a local area network.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the DSP is coupled to channels of the TDM bus with a switch/multiplexer, wherein the switch/multiplexer controls the DSP so that the DSP may concurrently process the first data stream.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein one or more other data streams are coupled from the one or more packet buses to the TDM bus with the switch/multiplexer.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more other data streams are coupled from the TDM bus to the telecommunications network.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the DSP processes the one or more other data streams.