Hierarchical data collection network supporting packetized voice communications among wireless terminals and telephones
First Claim
1. A voice communication circuit comprising:
- at least one processor operable to packetize digitized voice information to produce at least one voice packet;
a buffer operable to store the at least one voice packet;
interface circuitry operable to communicatively couple the buffer with one of a plurality of interchangeable network interfaces, each of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces supporting communication of voice packets via an associated type of communication network;
the at least one processor operable to reduce the quantity of voice packets communicated by changing the packetization based upon a level of voice activity;
the at least one processor operable to determine the associated type of communication network supported by the one of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces in communication with the interface circuitry;
the at least one processor operable to perform call setup based upon the determined associated type of communication network; and
the at least one processor operable to cause transmission of voice packets via the one of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces based upon the associated type of communication network.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A voice communication circuit comprising:
-
at least one processor operable to packetize digitized voice information to produce at least one voice packet; a buffer operable to store the at least one voice packet; interface circuitry operable to communicatively couple the buffer with one of a plurality of interchangeable network interfaces, each of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces supporting communication of voice packets via an associated type of communication network; the at least one processor operable to reduce the quantity of voice packets communicated by changing the packetization based upon a level of voice activity; the at least one processor operable to determine the associated type of communication network supported by the one of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces in communication with the interface circuitry; the at least one processor operable to perform call setup based upon the determined associated type of communication network; and the at least one processor operable to cause transmission of voice packets via the one of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces based upon the associated type of communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A voice communication circuit comprising:
-
interface circuitry operable to communicatively couple with one of a plurality of interchangeable network interfaces, each of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces operable to communicate via an associated type of communication network to receive at least one voice packet; a buffer operable to store the at least one voice packet; at least one processor operable to depacketize the at least one voice packet to produce digitized voice information; the at least one processor operable to determine the associated type of communication network supported by the one of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces in communication with the interface circuitry; the at least one processor operable to adapt call setup based upon the determined associated type of communication network; the at least one processor operable to cause the reception of the at least one packet via the one of the plurality of interchangeable network interfaces based upon the associated type of communication network; and the at least one processor operable to cause conversion of the digitized voice information to produce a voice stream and to adjust the buffering of voice packets in order to minimize gaps in the voice stream, wherein the adjusting is based upon a propagation delay of a communication network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections for implementing a voice communication system, the voice communication system operable to accept at any point in time one of a plurality of interchangeable network interfaces, each of the interchangeable network interfaces for use with an associated type of communication network, the code sections executable by a computer for causing the computer to perform the operations comprising:
-
detecting the presence of an interchangeable network interface; determining the associated type of communication network for use with the detected interchangeable network interface; performing call setup of the voice communication system based upon the determined associated type of communication network; establishing a packet voice call via the associated type of communication network; converting analog voice information to transmit voice packets; sending the transmit voice packets via the associated type of communication network using the interchangeable network interface; receiving voice packets via the associated type of communication network using the interchangeable network interface; and converting the received voice packets to analog voice information, wherein converting the received voice packets to analog voice information comprises buffering voice packets for an adjustable period of time to avoid gaps in the analog voice information, and wherein the adjustable period of time is based upon a propagation delay. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
Specification