Network access method and network access server therefor

• US 6,636,519 B1
• Filed: 06/14/1999
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Network Gateway Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: UTStarcom Incorporated (UTStarcom Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hansen, Christopher R., Goodknight, Gregory Warren, Ngo, Thanh Q., Baum, Marc S., Herman, Jeffrey E., Jones, Terrel L., Balton, Donald C., Norrell, Andrew L., Suffern, Robert C., Walsh, Dale M., Schoo, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US09/332,583
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: 370/465, 370/466, 370/401, 370/352, 370/355, 370/474, 370/402, 370/420, 379/93.01
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

Apparatus and method for enabling bilateral transmission of digital data between a local area network and telephone company networks employing both analog and digital telephone lines. A modem modulates signals responsive to signals from a local area network representing an outgoing call to form digital telephone signals suitable for transmission by a telephone line and suitable for demodulation by receiving analog modems. A circuit switched time division multiplex bus transmits the digital telephone signals to the telephone line. The modem also demodulates incoming digital telephone signals to form digital network bus signals divided into packets. A packet bus transmits the digital network bus signals to a network interface which processes the signals and transmits them to the local area network.

Claims

1. A method of providing high density remote access for a plurality of remote communications devices with a single network access server, said remote communications devices dialing in to said network access server to obtain access to a local or wide area computer network in order to exchange data with terminals coupled to said local or wide area computer network;

said remote communications devices each comprising a source of digital data, said remote communication devices capable of communication over a telephone network, said network access server comprising a unitary chassis having an interface to said telephone network and an interface to said local or wide area computer network,

the method comprising the steps of;

(a)

(1) transmitting a data stream from a remote communications device in said plurality of remote communications devices over said telephone network to said network access server;

(2) converting, in a signal conversion module in said network access server, said data stream from a form in which said data was transmitted over said telephone network into a form compatible with the processing requirements of a terminal on said local or wide area computer network;

(3) processing, in a network gateway module coupled to said signal conversion module, network protocols in said network access server required to transmit said data stream over said network to said terminal;

(4) transmitting said data stream onto said local or wide area computer network for transmission to said terminal;

(5) receiving, at said network gateway module of said network access server, responsive data from said terminal destined for transmission to said remote communications device;

(6) processing protocols, in said network access server, required to transmit said responsive data over said telephone network to said remote communications device;

(7) converting, in said signal conversion module, said responsive data into a form compatible with the transmission requirements of said telephone network; and

(8) imparting said responsive data onto said telephone network for transmission to said remote communication device, whereby said remote communications device and said terminal engage in bilateral communication via said network access server; and

(b) performing steps (a)(1) through (a)(8) substantially simultaneously for at least 24 separate and unrelated remote communications devices in said network access server, thereby resulting in at least 24 substantially simultaneously occurring separate bilateral communications sessions processed in said network access server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said network access server comprises a set of signal conversion module(s), and at least one gateway module, and circuitry coupling said signal conversion module(s) to said gateway module, and wherein said signal conversion and gateway modules are provided with the signal processing capacity to handle at least 24 separate sets of bilateral communications between at least 24 separate and unrelated remote communications devices and a set of terminals coupled to said network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said network access server comprises a unitary chassis and wherein said signal conversion module comprises a card, insertable into said chassis and removeable therefrom, containing digital signal processing circuitry performing modem functions for at least four different sets of bilateral communication between four separate and unrelated remote communications devices and four terminals coupled to said network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said response data for at least one of said 24 bilateral communication sessions comprises a file stored in a memory accessible to said terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said response data for at least one of said 24 bilateral communication sessions comprises a document stored in a memory accessible to said terminal.