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 6,400,711 B1
• Filed: 10/03/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vertical Networks Incorporated (Vertical Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pounds, Gregory E., Trees, Chris A., Pickett, Scott K.
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/433,914
• Time in Patent Office: 975 Days
• Field of Search: 710/124, 710/117, 710/100-104, 370/280, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/419, 370/431, 370/438, 370/442, 370/445, 370/451, 370/458, 370/463, 370/498, 370/400-402
• 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 12/2859 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 voice/data communication system comprising:

a computer system bus;

a multi-mode bus comprising at least one control bus, at least one packet bus and at least one TDM bus, wherein data are transmitted over the at least one packet bus in packets, wherein data are transmitted over the at least one TDM bus in frames, each of the frames having a plurality of slots for transmitting data;

a plurality of printed circuit boards, wherein the printed circuit boards include one or more printed circuit boards connected to a plurality of telephony devices, one or more printed circuit boards connected to a plurality of packet-based devices and one or more printed circuit boards having an interface to a wide area network;

one or more first slots receiving one or more of the printed circuit;

boards, wherein the one or more first slots connect the printed circuit boards to the computer system bus;

one or more second slots receiving one or more of the printed circuit boards, wherein the one or more second slots connect the printed circuit boards to the multi-mode bus;

a processor;

a switch/multiplexer coupled to the processor and the at least one TDM bus, wherein the switch/multiplexer selectively couples data to and from particular slots of particular frames;

wherein at least some of the first slots and the second slots are physically arranged in a corresponding manner, wherein a first one of the printed circuit boards is received by one of the first slots and connected to the computer system bus, wherein a second one of the printed circuit boards is received by both one of the first slots and one of the second slots and coupled simultaneously to both the computer system bus and the multi-mode bus,

wherein the processor selectively controls voice communications from the one or more telephony devices 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 at least one TDM bus and the wide area communication network, and wherein packet-based communications are protocol-processed and selectively coupled to the wide area communication network via the at least one TDM bus.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the first slots and the second slots are physically arranged in a parallel manner.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the first slots and the second slots are physically arranged in an aligned manner.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the first slots and the second slots are physically arranged in a parallel and aligned manner.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system bus comprises an ISA bus.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system bus comprises a PCI bus.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one TDM bus is adapted to couple to a plurality of interface cards, wherein the interface cards couple the communication system to the plurality of telephony devices and to one or more WAN services.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one TDM bus comprises at least 256 channels and data is transferred at a rate of at least 64k bits/second.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one packet bus is connected to a plurality of external computing devices.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first slots and the second slots are physically arranged in a manner so that a single printed circuit board may electrically and physically bridge the computer system bus and the multi-mode bus.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein a third one of the printed circuit boards is received by one of the second slots and coupled to the multi-mode bus.

12. A voice/data communication system comprising:

a computer system bus;

a multi-mode bus comprising at least one control bus, at least one packet bus and at least one TDM bus, wherein data are transmitted over the at least one packet bus in packets, wherein data are transmitted over the at least one TDM bus in frames, each of the frames having a plurality of slots for transmitting data;

a plurality of printed circuit boards, wherein the printed circuit boards include one or more printed circuit boards connected to a plurality of telephony devices, one or more printed circuit boards connected to a plurality of packet-based devices and one or more printed circuit boards having an interface to a wide area network;

one or more first slots receiving one or more of the printed circuit boards, wherein the one or more first slots connect the printed circuit boards to the computer system bus;

one or more second slots receiving one or more of the printed circuit boards, wherein the one or more second slots connect the printed circuit boards to the multi-mode bus;

a processor;

a switch/multiplexer coupled to the processor and the at least one TDM bus, wherein the switch/multiplexer selectively couples data to and from particular slots of particular frames;

wherein at least some of the first slots and the second slots are physically arranged in a corresponding manner, wherein a first one of the printed circuit boards is received by one of the second slots and connected to the multi-mode bus, and wherein a second one of the printed circuit boards is received by both one of the first slots and one of the second slots and is connected simultaneously to both the computer system bus and the multi-mode bus,

wherein the processor selectively controls voice communications from the one or more telephony devices 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 at least one TDM bus and the wide area communication network, and wherein packet-based communications are protocol-processed and selectively coupled to the wide area communication network via the at least one TDM bus.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein at least some of the first slots and the second slots are physically arranged in a parallel manner.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein at least some of the first slots and the second slots are physically arranged in an aligned manner.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein at least some of the first slots and the second slots are physically arranged in a parallel and aligned manner.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer system bus comprises an ISA bus or a PCI bus.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one TDM bus is adapted to couple to a plurality of interface cards, wherein the interface cards couple the communication system to the plurality of telephony devices and to one or more WAN services.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one packet bus is adapted to couple to a plurality of external computing devices.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the first slots and the second slots are physically arranged in a manner so that a single printed circuit board may electrically and physically bridge the computer system bus and the multi-mode bus.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein a third one of the printed circuit boards is received by one of the first slots and connected to the computer system bus.