Dual-use packet/analog phone or phone-adapter in a packet telephony distribution system

• US 7,301,940 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2002
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 2Wire, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bernstein, Jeffrey G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad; Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, CHUONG T
• Application Number:
  US10/199,847
• Time in Patent Office: 1,958 Days
• Field of Search: 370/466, 370/467, 370/352, 370/353, 370/401, 370/355, 370/356, 379/399.01, 379/156, 379/177, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Abstract

A system and method for communicating via a packet telephony distribution system is defined that includes a dual-use/analog phone or phone adapter. Any communication device incorporating the adapter can dynamically receive incoming calls and transmit outgoing calls over analog phone lines and over derived phone lines such as VoIP (Voice Over IP). When receiving or transmitting calls, the adapter and an associated gateway perform operations that enable simultaneous communication over the analog phone lines or derived phone lines from any combination of communication devices. In cooperation with the communication devices, the gateway further dynamically controls the incoming and outgoing calls over the analog phone lines and derived phone lines.

Claims

1. A system for communicating signals in a packet telephony distribution system comprising:

a gateway coupled to a service provider for dynamically controlling communication to a plurality of communication devices and to a plurality of data network and analog lines, the plurality of communication devices being coupled to the gateway and configured to make outgoing calls and receive incoming calls via the plurality of data network and analog lines; and

a plurality of adapters coupled to the gateway and further coupled to the plurality of communication devices, wherein one of each of the plurality of adapters is configured to dynamically select between a derived line and an analog line on the plurality of data network and analog lines;

wherein each of the plurality of adapters comprises;

a networking interface coupled to the plurality of data network and analog lines, the networking interface configured to operate according to a networking standard;

a digital signal processor coupled to the networking interface, the digital signal processor configured to process telephony signals and streaming audio;

a codec coupled to the digital signal processor;

a SLIC coupled to the codec and further coupled to the digital signal processor for electrical signaling on the plurality of data network and analog lines;

a bypass relay coupled to the data networking and analog lines and further coupled to the SLIC and the digital signal processor wherein the bypass relay switches access between the derived line and the analog line on the plurality of data network and analog lines; and

a hook state detector coupled to the communication device and the digital signal processor for determining the hook state of the communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the telephone network is operated by a

service provider.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway includes a network device for

dynamic control of communication between the plurality of communication devices and the plurality of data network and analog lines.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway further communicates control signals to the plurality of adapters to dynamically select between the derived line and the analog line on the plurality of data network and analog lines.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein one of each of the plurality of communication devices is uniquely coupled to one of each of the plurality of adapters.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway is configured to uniquely identify each of the plurality of communication devices to make outgoing calls and receive incoming calls.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the networking standard is HomePNA, HomePlug, or HomeRF.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the hook state detector measures a loop current while coupled to one of the plurality of communication devices to determine an off hook condition.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the bypass relay alternates between a bypass on state and a bypass off state to select between the derived line and the analog line on the plurality of data network and analog lines.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a filter is coupled to the bypass relay to filter digital signals on the plurality of data network and analog lines.

11. An adapter to facilitate communications over a derived line and an analog line, the adapter comprising:

a networking interface coupled to a plurality of data network and analog lines, the networking interface configured to operate according to a networking standard;

a digital signal processor coupled to the networking interface, the digital signal processor configured to process telephony signals and streaming audio;

a codec coupled to the digital signal processor;

a subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) coupled to the codec and further coupled to the digital signal processor for electrical signaling on the plurality of data network and analog lines;

a bypass relay coupled to the data networking and analog lines and further coupled to the SLIC and the digital signal processor, the bypass relay configured to switch access between the derived line and the analog line on the plurality of data network and analog lines; and

a hook state detector coupled to the communication device and the digital signal processor, the hook state device configured to determine the hook state of the communication device.

12. The adapter of claim 11, wherein the networking standard is HomePNA, HomePlug, or HomeRF.

13. The adapter of claim 11, wherein the hook state detector is further configured to measure a loop current while coupled to one of the plurality of communication devices to determine an off hook condition.

14. The adapter of claim 11, wherein the digital signal processor is further configured to perform an off hook sequence during an incoming call to dynamically select between the derived line and the analog line on the plurality of data network and analog lines.

15. The adapter of claim 11, wherein the bypass relay is further configured to alternate between a bypass on state and a bypass off state to select between the derived line and the analog line on the plurality of data network and analog lines.

16. The adapter of claim 15, wherein the bypass relay is further configured to switch to the bypass off state to facilitate a communication over the derived line.

17. The adapter of claim 15, wherein the bypass relay is further configured to switch to the bypass on state to facilitate a communication over the analog line.

18. The adapter of claim 15, wherein the bypass relay is further configured to switch by default to the bypass on state during a power loss to enable communication over the analog line.

19. The adapter of claim 11, wherein a filter is coupled to the bypass relay to filter digital signals on the plurality of data network and analog lines.

20. The adapter of claim 11, further comprising a light emitting diode (LED) coupled to the digital signal processor, wherein the digital signal processor is further configured to control the LED to display information.

21. The adapter of claim 11, wherein the networking interface is further configured to receive a message signal from a gateway to switch the bypass relay unless the gateway has prior knowledge of switching the bypass relay.