Systems and methods for TDM/packet communications using telephony station cards including voltage generators

• US 7,626,981 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Converged Data Solutions Inc.
• Inventors: Pounds, Gregory E., Strauss, William D., Pickett, Scott K.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, BRENDA H
• Application Number:
  US11/480,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20070036150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-358, 370/402, 370/458, 370/364, 370/494, 370/493, 370/495, 370/389
• US Class Current: 370/353
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• 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 12/2896 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 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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 7/006 : 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: 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 or switch functions. 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. In particular, systems and methods for generating required telephony voltages directly on station cards, rather than on the basis of a large, central ringing or other power supply that supply such telephony voltages to each of the station cards, are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of station cards are provided in the telephony or communications system. One or more DC power supplies provide a source of DC voltage, such as 12 volts, to each of the station cards. The station cards are coupled to a processor of the system. The station cards may support a plurality of analog and/or digital telephony devices, such as telephones facsimile, voice mail, recording, speakerphone, conferencing or other type telephony devices.

Claims

1. A communication system for communicating via a communication network, the communication system providing voice and data communications and comprising:

at least a first packet bus in communication with one or more packet-based devices and adapted for transferring packetized data within the system;

at least one time division multiplex (TDM) bus in communication with one or more telephony devices, wherein the TDM bus selectively is in communication with the first packet bus and the communication network;

a processor;

wherein the processor selectively controls voice and packet-based communications via the TDM bus and the first packet bus;

wherein the communication system includes one or more station cards for controlling communications with one or more of the telephony devices, wherein at least one of the station cards comprises;

an input for receiving an input voltage of a first voltage level from a power supply external to the at least one station card;

a voltage generation circuit on the at least one station card, wherein the voltage generation circuit generates from the input voltage one or more control voltages/signals of at least a second voltage level different from the first voltage level for generating signals for controlling communications with the one or more telephony devices; and

one or more interface circuits receiving the one or more control voltages/signals, wherein the one or more interface circuits generate signals for communicating with the one or more telephony devices.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the interface circuits are coupled to the one or more telephony devices, wherein the communication system further comprising one or more protect circuits coupled between the one or more interface circuits and the one or more telephony devices.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein at least one station card is coupled to a plurality of telephony devices and includes a plurality of interface circuits, the station card further comprising:

a control circuit coupled to the plurality of interface circuits;

a bus interface coupled to the processor;

wherein the control signals are received from the processor through the bus interface, wherein the control circuit controls the interface circuits and controls operation of the plurality of telephony devices.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the one or more telephony devices comprise analog telephony devices.

5. The communication system of claim 4, wherein the interface circuits each comprise a circuit for interfacing with and supplying control voltages to the one or more telephony devices and an audio processing circuit.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the one or more telephony devices comprise digital telephony devices.

7. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the interface circuits comprise control/logic circuits for supplying control voltages to the digital telephony devices.

8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the station card is coupled to a plurality of telephony devices, wherein the telephony devices include both analog telephony devices and digital telephony devices, wherein an analog interface circuit is provided for each analog telephony device, and a digital interface circuit is provided for each digital telephony device.

9. A method for generating voltages for controlling telephony devices via one or more station cards in a communication system, the communication system communicating via a communication network, the method comprising:

providing at least one station card in the communication system, wherein the at least one station card controls communications with one or more of the telephony devices;

receiving via an input on the at least one station card an input voltage of a first voltage level from a power supply external to the station card but internal to the communication system;

based on the received input voltage, generating on the at least one station card via a voltage generation circuit one or more control voltages/signals of at least a second voltage level different from the first voltage level for generating signals for controlling communications with the one or more telephony devices; and

receiving the one or more control voltages/signals with one or more interface circuits on the at least one station card, wherein the one or more interface circuits generate signals for communicating with the one or more telephony devices.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the interface circuits are coupled to the one or more telephony devices, wherein the communication system includes one or more protect circuits coupled between the one or more interface circuits and the one or more telephony devices.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one station card is coupled to a plurality of telephony devices and includes a plurality of interface circuits, wherein the at least one station card includes:

a control circuit coupled to the plurality of interface circuits;

a bus interface coupled to the processor;

wherein the control signals are received from the processor through the bus interface, wherein the control circuit controls the interface circuits and controls operation of the plurality of telephony devices.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more telephony devices comprise analog telephony devices.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the interface circuits each comprise a circuit for interfacing with and supplying control voltages to the one or more telephony devices and an audio processing circuit.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more telephony devices comprise digital telephony devices.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the interface circuits comprise control/logic circuits for supplying control voltages to the digital telephony devices.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the station card is coupled to a plurality of telephony devices, wherein the telephony devices include both analog telephony devices and digital telephony devices, wherein an analog interface circuit is provided for each analog telephony device, and a digital interface circuit is provided for each digital telephony device.