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 6,396,849 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• 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., Sarkissian, Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANDERPUYE, KENNETH N
• Application Number:
  US09/418,424
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.24,88.17,220,225,250,493 378/352.54 709/206 370/466,465,473,474,458,395,438,401,439,352,440,489
• US Class Current: 370/490
• 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, wherein the system is coupled to at least one telecommunications network, the office having a plurality of computers coupled to the system over at least one packet bus and a plurality of telephones coupled to the system over at least one time division multiplex (TDM) bus, wherein the at least one TDM bus is selectively coupled to the at least one packet bus and the at least one telecommunications network, wherein the system provides voice and data communications to a plurality of users in the office, wherein associated with at least a first user is at least a first computer and at least a first telephone, a method comprising the steps of:

selectively coupling packet-based communications to or from the at least one packet bus from or to the at least one telecommunications network via the at least one TDM bus;

receiving telephone calls for users in the office from the at least one telecommunications network, wherein voice communications occur over the at least one TDM bus;

recording in voice mail of the system one or more voice messages for the first user based on one or more received telephone calls and coupled to voice mail via the at least one TDM bus;

receiving one or more electronic messages for the first user from the at least one telecommunications network via the at least one TDM bus;

storing one or more electronic messages for the first user in the system;

providing an indication to the first user via the first telephone that the first user has received one or more electronic messages for the first user; and

providing the one or more electronic messages to the first user over the at least one packet bus;

wherein the system provides voice communications from the one or more telephones over the at least one TDM bus and packet-based communications over the at least one packet bus, wherein voice communications that stay in a circuit-switched form in the system occur over the TDM bus and the at least one telecommunications network, and wherein packet-based communications are concurrently coupled to the at least one telecommunications network via the TDM bus.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an indication to the first user via the first telephone that the first user has received one or more voice messages.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing an indication to the first user via the first telephone that the first user has received one or more electronic messages for the first user also provides an indication to the first user via the first telephone that the first user has received one or more voice messages.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided visually.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the indication indicates whether the first user has electronic messages, voice messages, both electronic messages and voice messages or neither electronic messages nor voice messages.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided audibly.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the indication indicates whether the first user has electronic messages, voice messages, both electronic messages and voice messages or neither electronic messages nor voice messages.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided with a message indicator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the indication indicates whether the first user has electronic messages, voice messages, both electronic messages and voice messages or neither electronic messages nor voice messages.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the indicator comprises a lamp.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the indication indicates whether the first user has electronic messages, voice messages, both electronic messages and voice messages or neither electronic messages nor voice messages.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the indication is provided by a blinking sequence.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the indication indicates whether the first user has electronic messages, voice messages, both electronic messages and voice messages or neither electronic messages nor voice messages.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided by a dial tone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication indicates whether the first user has electronic messages, voice messages, both electronic messages and voice messages or neither electronic messages nor voice messages.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the dial tone is generated by a digital signal processor in the system.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided by an audible message.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication indicates whether the first user has electronic messages, voice messages, both electronic messages and voice messages or neither electronic messages nor voice messages.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the audible message is generated by a digital signal processor in the system.