System and method for facilitating communication between dissimilar radio voice devices

• US 6,693,899 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2000
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon BBN Technlogies Corp. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Genuity Inc. (Lumen Technologies, Inc.), Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Makridakis, Kathy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): George, Keith M.
• Application Number:
  US09/504,974
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/466
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16

Abstract

A method and an apparatus are disclosed for communicating between dissimilar radio voice communication devices across a wireless or wireline interface. The apparatus comprises a voice over Internet protocol (voIP) terminal connected to a computer network and an analog radio transceiver. The voIP terminal is comprised of at least one microprocessor for providing master control to a data acquisition (DAQ) board to create a system which is fully integrated in terms of the interface capability it provides to end users. In operation, the voIP terminal receives analog data from the analog radio transceiver, converts the data into a format recognizable by the computer network, and transmits the data to a desired location on the network. It also receives digital data from the computer network and transmits it into a format recognizable by the attached analog voice transceiver. The voIP terminal also provides the capability to alter its communication protocols to adapt to a plurality of different computer network protocols and radio transceivers.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating communication between dissimilar analog radio devices over a computer network, comprising:

a first communications terminal comprising;

at least a first analog radio device; and

a first analog signal converting apparatus for converting an analog signal to a first digital signal;

a second communications terminal comprising;

at least a second analog radio device;

a signal format converting apparatus for converting said first digital signal received from said first communications terminal into a second digital signal, said first and second digital signals associated with dissimilar analog radio devices; and

a digital signal converting apparatus for converting said second digital signal into a second analog signal; and

a computer network interface coupling said first communications terminal to said second communications terminal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer network is a token ring network, ethernet local area network, or wide area network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer network interface is a wireless interface.

4. A system for interfacing an analog radio device with a computer network, comprising:

a first analog radio device; and

a terminal coupled to said first analog radio device, said terminal further comprising;

a memory having program instructions; and

a processor configured to use the program instructions to convert a first analog signal into a first digital signal;

to transmit said first digital signal to a computer network;

to receive a second digital signal from said computer network, said second digital signal associated with a dissimilar second analog radio device from said analog radio device;

to convert said second digital signal into a third digital signal, wherein said third digital signal is associated with said second analog radio device;

to convert said third digital signal into a second analog signal; and

to transmit said second analog signal to said first analog radio device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the program instructions used by the processor to receive the second digital signal are further comprised of the following instructions:

detecting a carrier detect signal from said first analog radio device; and

receiving a second digital signal from said computer network.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the program instructions used by the processor to transmit said second analog signal to said first analog radio device is further comprised of a program instruction for transmitting a push-to-talk signal to said first analog radio device.

7. A method of communicating between dissimilar analog radio devices, across a computer network, said method comprising the steps of:

converting a first analog signal received at a first communications terminal into a first digital signal;

transmitting said first digital signal to a second communications terminal;

converting said first digital signal into a second digital signal at said second communications terminal, said first digital signal and said second digital signal being associated with said dissimilar analog radio devices;

converting said second digital signal into a second analog signal at said second communications terminal; and

routing said second analog signal to an analog radio device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said transmitting step is performed in accordance with the UDP protocol.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said transmitting step is performed in accordance with the H323 protocol.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of converting a first analog signal received at a first communications terminal into a first digital signal is further comprised of the step of storing said first digital signal in a memory location.

11. A system for communicating between dissimilar analog radio devices, across a computer network, comprising:

means for converting a first analog signal received at a first communications terminal into a first digital signal;

means for transmitting said first digital signal to a second communications terminal;

means for converting said first digital signal into a second digital signal at said second communications terminal, said first digital signal and said second digital signal being associated with said dissimilar analog radio devices;

means for converting said second digital signal into a second analog signal at said second communications terminal; and

means for routing said second analog signal to an analog radio device.