Unified distributed voice and data local area networking

• US 6,456,633 B1
• Filed: 04/08/1999
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avinta Communications Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avinta Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Abraham Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): CANGIALOSI, SALVATORE A
• Application Number:
  US09/288,421
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 370/276, 370/319, 370/431, 370/490, 370/449, 370/522, 370/352, 370/359, 370/364
• US Class Current: 370/490
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0638 Clock or time synchronisation among nodes; Internode synchronisation synchronization for ring networks H04L12/422; data switching networks with synchronous transmission H04L12/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 4/00 Combined time-division and frequency-division multiplex systems H04J13/00 takes precedence ; data transmission H04L5/26; telemetry G08C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6435 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6454 Random, e.g. Ethernet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6456 Channel and bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6459 Multiplexing, e.g. TDMA, CDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/064 Data transmission during pauses in telephone conversation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/068 using time division multiplex techniques; integrated services digital networks H04Q11/0428

Abstract

A local networking system, offers integrated communication services to multiple local voice stations and data terminals via a common transmission medium. This system, utilizing Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) signals as carrier, transports information with CSMA/CD protocol. Voice transmissions are organized in traditional TDMA format with fixed frame length and dynamically assigned time slots to avoid interference caused by other devices in the system. Data services operate in traditional CSMA/CD format, but restricted to specified blocks of time intervals. The voice service quality is guaranteed because the required channels and bandwidths, up to the designed maximum, are always available when needed. The grade of data service may be impacted by voice traffic volume which is automatically managed by data terminal'"'"'s inherent design with CSMA/CD protocol. This unified digital multiplexing system is applicable to transmission media with restricted channels. For example, even with very limited transmission bandwidth, a Dual Area Network (DAN) for integrated voice and data transmissions still can be set up on power or telephone line. On the other hand, this technique can maximize channel utilization of any given bandwidth in a wide band transmission facility, such as radio wave, coaxial cable or infrared system.

Claims

1. A distributed local networking system for managing simultaneous voice traffic and data message among external service lines, local voice station instruments and data terminal equipments comprising,

one system bus designed with,

means to carry a multiplexed signal stream for said local networking system,

one master controller designed with,

means to interface said external service lines to said system bus,

means via said system bus, to set system timing reference,

to receive request for service, and to issue time slot assignment for said voice traffic as well as to define time interval allocation for said data message,

means to set up and to transport said voice traffic between said external service lines and said system bus,

one or more station controllers, each designed with,

means to interface said voice station instrument to said system bus,

means to monitor said system bus for said system timing reference,

means via said system bus, to request and receive said time slot assignment,

means to transport said voice traffic between said voice station instrument and said system bus, within said time slot assignment,

one or more terminal controllers, each designed with,

means to interface said data terminal equipment to said system bus,

means to monitor said system bus for said system timing reference, and said time interval allocation,

means to transport said data message between said data terminal and said system bus, within said time interval allocation,

wherein,

said system bus is a shared physical transmission medium among said master, station and terminal controller, and,

said time slot assignment and said time interval allocation are parts of shared system resources,

provides integrated multi-line voice PABX service to said voice station instruments by means of said master controller, said system bus and said station controllers, as well as data LAN (Local Area Network) service to said data terminal equipments by means of said terminal controllers and said system bus.

2. A distributed local networking system in accordance with claim 1, dynamically manages said system resources by treating said voice traffic with higher priority up to a preset limit and, allocating all remaining said system resources to said data terminal equipments.

3. A distributed local networking system in accordance with claim 1, fully utilizes said system resources by consolidating said time slot assignment not used by voice traffic to one block of contiguous said time interval allocation to improve data networking efficiency.

4. A distributed local networking system in accordance with claim 1, said master, station and terminal controllers are modularly constructed with standard interfaces and fixed operation parameters, offering concise installation, operation and maintenance procedures.

5. A distributed local networking system in accordance with claim 1, operating with simple operation criteria, adapts to individual user'"'"'s system size and installation configurations.

6. A distributed local networking system in accordance with claim 1, provides simultaneous voice and data networking over the same said shared physical transmission medium.

7. A distributed local networking system in accordance with claim 1, whereby said station controller further comprises bypassing facilities to maintain traffic and distribute load on said external service lines during abnormal operating situations.

8. A distributed local networking system in accordance with claim 1, extends multi-line voice PABX service through said shared physical transmission medium.

9. A distributed local networking system in accordance with claim 1, its performance is only limited by available data compression and line rate technologies.

10. A distributed local networking system in accordance with claim 1, utilizing unified transmission facility for both said voice traffic and said data message conforms with Computer and Telephony Integration (CTI) technology.

11. A distributed local networking system in accordance with claim 1, compatible with WAN (Wide Area Network) transmission technology, provides an unified local and wide area networking for both voice and data communications.

12. A distributed local networking system for managing simultaneous voice traffic and data message among voice station instruments and data terminal equipments comprising,

one system bus designed with,

means to carry a multiplexed signal stream for said local networking system,

one master controller designed with,

means via said system bus, to set system timing reference, to receive request for service, and to issue time slot assignment for said voice traffic as well as to define time interval allocation for said data message,

one or more station controllers, each designed with,

means to interface said voice station instrument to said system bus,

means to monitor said system bus for said system timing reference,

means via said system bus, to request and receive said time slot assignment,

means to transport said voice traffic between said voice station instrument and said system bus, within said time slot assignment,

one or more terminal controllers, each designed with,

means to interface said data terminal equipment to said system bus,

means to monitor said system bus for said system timing reference, and said time interval allocation,

means to transport said data message between said data terminal and said system bus, within said time interval allocation,

wherein,

said system bus is a shared physical transmission medium among said master, station and terminal controllers, and,

said time slot assignment and said time interval allocation are parts of said shared system resources,

provides, in an isolated physical environment, integrated multi-channel voice intercom service to said voice station instruments by means of said system bus and said station controllers, as well as data LAN (Local Area Network) service to said data terminal equipments by means of said terminal controllers and said system bus.

13. A distributed local networking system for managing simultaneous voice traffic and data message among external service lines, local voice station instruments and data terminal equipment, comprising:

utilizing FDM (Frequency Division Multiplexing) as basic signal carrier technique on system bus;

employing CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) as information transport protocol;

orchestrating said voice traffic and said data message in TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) formats to satisfy respective transmission criteria, specifically;

assigning time slots to transport said voice traffic from said voice station instrument in TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) format;

allocating a block of time interval to transport said data message from said data terminal equipment in CSMA/CD format;

employs different transmission technologies into one unified system providing integrated voice and data services.

14. A distributed local networking system in accordance with claim 13, said integration technique maximizes resource allocation and utilization among applications of different characteristics in communication systems with a given channel bandwidth.

15. A method for providing a distributed local networking system for managing simultaneous voice traffic and data message among external service lines, local voice station instruments and data terminal equipments, comprising the steps of:

providing a basic signal carrier technique in the system bus;

initiating an information transport protocol within the system;

orchestrating said voice traffic and data message within said system so as to satisfy respective transmission criteria, specifically, assigning time slots to transport said voice traffic from said voice station instrument in a first format, and allocating a block of time interval to transport said data message from said data terminal equipment in a second format;

employs different transmission technologies into one unified system providing integrated voice and data services.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said basic signal carrier technique is Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM).

17. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said information transport protocol is Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD).

18. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said voice traffic and said data message are in Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) format.

19. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said voice traffic is transported in Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) format.

20. A distributed local networking system for managing simultaneous voice traffic and data message among voice station instruments and data terminal equipments, comprising:

a plurality of voice stations capable of communicating with each other within a system;

a plurality of data terminal each being associated to a corresponding voice station;

a system bus having a signal carrier technique;

a plurality of station controller interfacing said voice station to said system bus and monitoring said system bus for timing reference;

a plurality of terminal controller for interfacing said data terminal and monitoring said system bus for said system timing reference and a time interval allocation;

initiating an information transport protocol within the system;

orchestrating said voice traffic and said data message within said system so as to satisfy respective transmission criteria, specifically, assigning time slots to transport said voice traffic from said voice station instrument in a first format, and allocating a block of time interval to transport said data message from said data terminal equipment in a second format;

employs different transmission technologies into one unified system providing integrated voice and data services.