Hierarchical data collection network supporting packetized voice communications among wireless terminals and telephones

• US 7,920,553 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Michael D., Kubler, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Jayanti K
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZHU, BO HUI ALVIN
• Application Number:
  US10/783,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20050036467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,601 Days
• Field of Search: 370/217, 370/218, 370/219, 370/238, 370/238.1, 370/310.1, 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/357, 370/389, 370/395.1, 370/395.72, 370/370, 370/408, 370/419, 370/473, 370/474, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/353
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10841 Particularities of the light-sensitive elements semiconductor devices H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 3/0908 using a phase locked loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1615 Switching on; Switching off, e.g. remotely battery saving circuits associated with selective call operation H04W52/00; details of power consumption reduction in a PLL, H03L7/0802, H03L7/14, H03L2207/08, H03L2207/18; muting amplifiers by gain control see H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0802 using antenna selection H04B7/0868 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 : by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 : by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 : Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0032 : Without explicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1671 : the supervisory signal being transmitted together with control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 : the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/12 : Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/14 : Demodulator circuits; Receiver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/156 : with demodulation using temporal properties of the received signal, e.g. detecting pulse width
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 : Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/48 : Routing tree calculation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 : Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 : in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 : in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 : Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 : In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 : Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 : Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 : Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 : including a card reading device
• 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: H04W 28/14 : using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 : Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 : managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 : TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/38 : TPC being performed in particular situations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 : in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 : Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 : Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 : Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network accommodates real time voice transmission both through dedicated, scheduled bandwidth and through a packet-based routing within the confines and constraints of a data network. Conversion and call processing circuitry is also disclosed which enables access devices and personal computers to adapt voice information between analog voice stream and digital voice packet formats as proves necessary. Routing pathways include wireless spanning tree networks, wide area networks, telephone switching networks, internet, etc., in a manner virtually transparent to the user. A voice session and associate call setup simulates that of conventional telephone switching network, providing well-understood functionality common to any mobile, remote or stationary terminal, phone, computer, etc.

Claims

1. A device for communicatively coupling a packet network to at least one communication network having a different information format, the device comprising:

a packet interface for communicating information via the packet network;

at least one network interface, each of the at least one network interface for communicating information via an associated one of the at least one communication network in an associated format, wherein the at least one network interface provides the functionality of a conventional telephone switching network interface;

at least one converter for selectively converting information received by the packet interface for transmission via one of the at least one network interface in the associated format, and for selectively converting for transmission via the packet interface information received from the one of the at least one network interface in the associated format, wherein the at least one converter converts first digitized voice information into a first analog voice signal, and a second analog voice signal into second digitized voice information, and wherein the at least one converter buffers the first digitized voice information for a period of time to minimize gaps in the first analog voice signal; and

a controller for receiving, from either of the packet network and the at least one network interface, signaling information that initiates a call connection between the packet network and one of the at least one communication network, the controller adapting the operation of the converter and establishing the call connection between the packet network and the one of the at least one communication network, based upon the received signaling information and a cross-reference between an address on the at least one communication network and an associated address on the packet network.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the packet interface is compliant with an Internet protocol (IP).

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the Internet protocol is transport control protocol (TCP)/Internet protocol (IP).

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the information communicated via the packet interface comprises digitized voice information.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of the information communicated via the packet interface is unrelated to the communication of digitized voice information.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one network interface provides at least one of a battery supply, over-voltage protection, ringing current, tone generation, tone detection, two wire to four wire conversion, and test functionality.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one network interface is a digital interface.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one network interface is a second packet interface.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one converter compensates for a difference in bit rate between interfaces.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one converter adapts information received via the packet interface into analog modem signals for transmission via the at least one network interface, and adapts analog modem signals received via the at least one network interface into information for transmission via the packet interface.

41. The device of claim 1 wherein the address on the at least one communication network comprises a telephone number.

11. A method for communicatively coupling a packet network to at least one communication network having a different information format, the method comprising:

receiving from either of the packet network and the at least one communication network signaling information that initiates a call connection between the packet network and one of the at least one communication network;

establishing the call connection between the packet network and the one of the at least one communication network based upon the received signaling information and a cross-reference between an address on the at least one communication network and an associated address on the packet network;

receiving information from the packet network in a first information format;

converting the received information from the first information format to a second information format based upon the received signaling information, wherein the converting comprises buffering digitized voice information for a period of time to minimize gaps in an analog voice signal;

sending the converted information via the one of the at least one communication network;

accepting information from the one of the at least one communication network in the second information format;

transforming the accepted information from the second information format to the first information format based upon the received signaling information; and

transmitting the transformed information via the packet network.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the packet network is compliant with an Internet protocol (IP).

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the Internet Protocol is compliant with transmission control protocol (TCP)/Internet protocol (IP).

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the information communicated via the packet network comprises digitized voice information.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the information communicated via the packet network comprises data.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein at least a portion of the data is unrelated to the communication of digitized voice information.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one communication network is a second packet network.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second packet network is compliant with an Internet protocol (IP).

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the Internet Protocol is compliant with transmission control protocol (TCP)/Internet protocol (IP).

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one communication network comprises a conventional telephone switching network.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the second information format is an analog format.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein one of the second information format is a modem signal.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the second information format is a digital format.

24. The method of claim 11 wherein the converting comprises converting digitized voice information into an analog voice signal.

25. The method of claim 11 wherein the transforming comprises converting an analog voice signal into digitized voice information.

42. The method of claim 11 wherein the address on the at least one communication network comprises a telephone number.

26. A system that couples a packet network to at least one communication network having a different information format, the system comprising:

at least one processor operably coupled to the packet network, the at least one processor operating to, at least;

receive from either of the packet network and the at least one communication network signaling information that initiates a call connection between the packet network and one of the at least one communication network;

establish a call connection between the packet network and the at least one communication network based upon the received signaling information and a cross-reference between an address on the at least one communication network and an associated address on the packet network;

receive information from the packet network in a first information format;

initiate conversion of the received information from the first information format to a second information format based upon the received signaling information, wherein the converting comprises buffering digitized voice information for a period of time to minimize gaps in an analog voice signal;

send the converted information via the at least one communication network;

accept information from the at least one communication network in the second information format;

initiate transformation of the accepted information from the second information format to the first information format based upon the received signaling information; and

transmit the transformed information via the packet network.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the packet network is compliant with an Internet protocol (IP).

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the Internet Protocol is compliant with transmission control protocol (TCP)/Internet protocol (IP).

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the information communicated via the packet network comprises digitized voice information.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein the information communicated via the packet network comprises data.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein at least a portion of the data is unrelated to the communication of digitized voice information.

32. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one communication network is a second packet network.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the second packet network is compliant with an Internet protocol (IP).

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the Internet Protocol is compliant with transmission control protocol (TCP)/Internet protocol (IP).

35. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one communication network comprises a conventional telephone switching network.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the second information format is an analog format.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein one of the second information format is a modem signal.

38. The system of claim 35 wherein the second information format is a digital format.

39. The system of claim 26 wherein the converting comprises converting digitized voice information into an analog voice signal.

40. The system of claim 26 wherein the transforming comprises converting an analog voice signal into digitized voice information.

43. The system of claim 26 wherein the address on the at least one communication network comprises a telephone number.