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 6,343,074 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1998
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vertical Networks Incorporated (Vertical Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pickett, Scott K.
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/163,596
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 370/465, 370/466, 370/473, 370/474, 370/395, 370/438, 370/439, 370/458, 370/445, 370/462, 370/352, 370/353, 709/223-6
• US Class Current: 370/353
• 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 12/2874 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 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• 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 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• 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 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 3/51 : 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: 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 coupled to a wide area communication network comprising a plurality of network resources, the communication system controlling voice and data communications in an office and comprising:

a host processor;

at least a first packet bus adapted for transferring packetized data and coupled to the host processor;

at least one time division multiplex (TDM) bus selectively coupled to the first packet bus and the host processor and the wide area communication network;

a buffer and framer unit coupled between the host processor and the TDM bus, the buffer and framer unit including a plurality of circuits for processing data in accordance with communication protocols;

a plurality of computing devices coupled to the first packet bus for initiating or receiving data communications in the office; and

a plurality of telephony devices coupled to the TDM bus for initiating or receiving voice communications in the office;

wherein the host processor comprises hardware and software selectively allocating resources within the communication system, wherein the host processor determines a communication path from one or more communication paths in the communication system for each of the voice and data communications in the office based on available network resources, type of communication, and/or usage patterns in the office, wherein voice communications that stay in a circuit-switched form in the communication system occur over the TDM bus and the wide area communication network.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein at least a first computing device coupled to the first packet bus comprises communication system management software controlling voice and data communications in the communication system, wherein the first computing device under control of the communication management software issues and receives control information to and from the host processor, wherein the first computing device controls voice and data communications in the communication system.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the host processor controls the provision of addresses for a domain naming service (DNS).

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the host processor controls Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) functions, including name registrations.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the host processor controls a single point of entry firewall between the communication network and the communication system.

6. The communication system of claim 5, wherein the firewall comprises a packet filter for monitoring transactions at the network protocol level.

7. The communication system of claim 5, wherein the firewall comprises an application firewall for monitoring transactions including file transfer protocol (FTP) or electronic mail transactions.

8. The communication system of claim 5, wherein the firewall comprises a proxy server for monitoring World Wide Web (WWW) transactions over the communication network.

9. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the host processor controls communications based on a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP).

10. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the host processor comprises a file server for computing devices coupled to the communication system.

11. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the host processor controls electronic mail transactions for computing devices coupled to the communication system.

12. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the host processor controls wide area network (WAN) services of the communication network for the communication system.