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

• US 6,560,222 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vertical Networks Incorporated (Vertical Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pickett, Scott K., Pounds, Gregory E.
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/419,384
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 710/124, 710/117, 372/395.1, 372/445, 372/395.61, 372/402, 372/401, 372/431, 372/419, 372/458, 372/438, 372/489, 372/498, 372/352, 372/353, 455/413, 455/433, 455/461, 370/463
• 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 12/2896 Distributed processing, e.g. on line cards
• 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 2012/6408 Shared Medium, e.g. memory, bus, ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6424 Access arrangements
• 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 65/1053 IP private branch exchange [PBX] functionality entities or arrangements circuit switched PBXs H04M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• 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 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• 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 7/0033 : Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 : where the data service is an electronic mail service
• 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 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• 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. With a system for providing telephone services to at least a first group of users, wherein each of the users is assigned a telephone number, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling at least a first telephone for user assignment, wherein the first telephone may be assigned to a particular user telephone number;

assigning at least a first user a first telephone number, wherein at a first point in time the first user is not assigned a telephone for initiating or receiving telephone calls;

at a second point in time determining that the first user has entered via the first telephone first data requesting that the first telephone be assigned to the first telephone number;

assigning the first telephone to the first telephone number, wherein telephone calls to the first telephone number are coupled to the first telephone, wherein for time prior to the second point in time there is no telephone number assigned to the first telephone and no telephone calls are coupled to the first telephone;

wherein the system is coupled to a wide area communication network comprising a plurality of network resources, wherein the system provides voice and data communications to a plurality of users in an office and has at least a first packet bus coupled to a plurality of packet-based devices, at least one time division multiplexed bus (TDM) coupled to a plurality of telephony devices and selectively coupled to the first packet bus and the wide area communication network, a processor for control of the system and a switch/multiplexer controlled by the processor and the TDM bus, wherein the method further comprises the steps of;

transferring packetized data to and from the system with one or more of the packet-based devices, wherein data are transmitted over the first packet bus in packets;

transmitting data over the TDM bus in frames, each of the frames having a plurality of slots for transmitting data, wherein the data transmitted over the TDM bus includes data for voice communications from one or more of the plurality of telephony devices;

protocol processing at least certain data transmitted over the first packet bus in packets and selectively providing the protocol-processed data to the TDM bus;

wherein the switch/multiplexer selectively controls the providing of data to and from particular slots of particular frames;

wherein the processor selectively controls voice communications from one or more of the telephony devices over the TDM bus and packet-based communications over the first packet bus, wherein voice communications that stay in a circuit-switched form in the system occur over the 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 TDM bus.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing data for controlling the system, wherein the stored data includes data that indicates a correspondence between user telephone numbers and particular telephones.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at a third point in time, the first user enters second data via the first telephone, wherein in response to the second data the first telephone is unassigned from the first telephone number, wherein telephone calls to the first telephone number are not coupled to the first telephone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at a third point in time, the first user enters second data via a second telephone, wherein in response to the second data the first telephone is unassigned from the first telephone number and the first telephone number is assigned to the second telephone, wherein telephone calls to the first telephone number are coupled to the second telephone and are not coupled to the first telephone.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing configuration data for the first user, wherein the configuration data controls telephone calls coupled to the first telephone.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the configuration data also controls voice mail options.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the configuration data controls forwarding of calls directed to the first telephone number.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the configuration data controls forwarding of calls to another telephone number directed by the first user, to a location remote from the location of the first telephone, to another telephone number depending on whether a busy signal is detected for the first telephone number, to another telephone number depending on whether a telephone call to the first telephone number is not answered, or to another telephone number depending on time of day.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the another telephone number comprises voice mail.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the configuration data includes display name data for the first user, wherein the user'"'"'s name is displayed on a second telephone when a telephone call is occurring between the first telephone and the second telephone.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at a third point in time, the first user enters second data via a second telephone, wherein in response to the second data the first telephone is unassigned from the first telephone number and the first telephone number is assigned to the second telephone, wherein telephone calls to the first telephone number are coupled to the second telephone and are not coupled to the first telephone, wherein the storage stores configuration data for the first user, wherein the configuration data controls telephone calls coupled to the first telephone between the second point in time and the third point in time, wherein the configuration data controls telephone calls coupled to the second telephone after the third point in time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein, at the second point in time, the system informs the first user of status information for the first telephone.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the status information includes information indicative of whether the first telephone is enabled or disabled for user assignment.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the status information includes information indicative of whether the first telephone is assigned to another user.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the status information is audibly informed to the first user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the status information is audibly informed to the first user using a digital signal processor coupled to the processor.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein a system administrator controls whether a particular user is assigned a particular telephone for the particular user'"'"'s extension number.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein a system administrator controls whether a particular telephone is enabled or disabled for user assignment.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein certain telephones cannot be unassigned without entry of special data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the special data comprises a password for a second user, wherein a telephone assigned to an extension number for the second user cannot be unassigned or assigned to an extension number for another user without entry of the password for the second user.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of configuring a workspace to have at least plurality of work areas each with a telephone, wherein each of the telephones is initially unassigned to a particular telephone number, wherein the first telephone is in a first work area, wherein a second user assigns a second telephone number to a second telephone in a second work area, wherein at a third point in time the first user assigns the first telephone number to another telephone in another work area.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein at a fourth point in time, the second user assigns the second telephone number to another telephone in another work area.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the system is coupled to a wide area communication network comprising a plurality of network resources, the system providing voice and data communications to a plurality of users in an office, the system further comprising:

at least a first packet bus coupled to one or more packet-based devices and adapted for transferring packetized data to and from the system;

at least one time division multiplex (TDM) bus coupled to one or more of the telephones and selectively coupled to the first packet bus and the wide area communication network;

wherein the processor selectively controls voice communications from the one or more telephones over the TDM bus and packet-based communications over the first packet bus,

wherein voice communications that stay in a circuit-switched form in the system occur over the TDM bus and the wide area communication network, and wherein packet-based communications are selectively coupled to the wide area communication network via the TDM bus.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the system includes hardware and software selectively allocating resources within the system, wherein the processor determines a communication path from one or more communication paths in the system for each of the voice and packet-based communications in the office based on available network resources, type of communication, and/or usage patterns in the office.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the system includes hardware and software selectively allocating resources within the system, wherein the system determines one or more communications paths within the system and over the wide area communication network for processing voice and packet-based communications based on predetermined rules.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the rules selectively allocate resources within the system as a function of time of day, resource availability over the wide area communication network, type of communication and/or usage patterns.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein a framer/deframer is coupled to the switch/multiplexer, wherein the framer/deframer processes data in accordance with a first protocol and in accordance with a second protocol.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein a digital signal processor circuit is coupled to the framer/deframer and the TDM bus, wherein the digital signal processor circuit provides at least a dial tone or DTMF digit detection for at least certain of the plurality of telephony devices coupled to the TDM bus.

29. The method of claim 27, herein data communications over the wide area communication network in accordance with the first protocol occur via the TDM bus, wherein data communications over the wide area communication network in accordance with the second protocol occur via the TDM bus.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the first protocol comprises HDLC, wherein the second protocol comprises ATM, HDLC or a raw data protocol.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the packet-based communications comprise voice-based packet communications.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the packet-based communications comprise Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) packet-based communications.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein voice communications that stay in a circuit-switched form in the system occur over the TDM bus and the wide area communication network, and wherein VoIP packet-based communications are selectively coupled to the wide area communication network via the TDM bus.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the system includes hardware and software resources that provide a VoIP gatekeeper function.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the hardware and software resources determine if acceptable conditions exist on the Internet for VoIP packet-based communications.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the telephony devices comprises a telephone.