Systems and methods for multiple mode voice and data communications using intelligently bridged TDM and packet buses

• US 8,144,729 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2007
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Converged Data Solutions Inc.
• Inventors: Pickett, Scott K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Chirag
• Assistant Examiner(s): Van, Jenkey
• Application Number:
  US12/002,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,564 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/466
• 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 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2881 IP/Ethernet DSLAM
• 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 12/6402 Hybrid switching fabrics
• 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 65/1053 IP private branch exchange [PBX] functionality entities or arrangements circuit switched PBXs H04M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• 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: H04M 7/1295 : Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• 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. 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.

Claims

1. A method for providing voice and data communications over a wide area network, comprising:

providing a processor,

providing a multi-protocol framing/deframing circuit coupled to the processor over a first bus and receiving data over the first bus of two or more communication protocols, wherein the multi-protocol framing/deframing circuit comprises at least a first protocol processing circuit and a second protocol processing circuit and a buffer coupled to receive data from, and transmit data to, the first bus, wherein the buffer selectively couples data between the first bus and the first and second protocol processing circuits;

providing a multiplexing circuit coupled to the multi-protocol framing/deframing circuit and receiving commands from the processor, wherein the multiplexing circuit selectively transmits data to and receives data from the multi-protocol framing/deframing circuit and selectively transmits data to and receives data from a second bus in a time division multiplexed mode utilizing a plurality of frames, the second bus comprising a time division multiplexed bus, each of the frames comprising a plurality of slots, wherein the multiplexing circuit, under control of the processor, selectively couples data to and from particular slots of the frames;

providing a plurality of interface circuits coupled to the second bus and receiving commands from the processor, wherein the interface circuits are coupled to the wide area network and to one or more telephone devices, wherein the interface circuits selectively transmit data to and receive data from the second bus under control of the processor; and

providing a packet bus coupled to the processor, wherein data communications over the packet bus art coupled to the wide area network under control of the processor through the multi-protocol framing/defaming circuit, the multiplexing circuit, and the second bus, wherein voice communications that stay in a circuit-switched form and that are based on one of the one or more telephone devices simultaneously occur over the second bus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second bus comprises an MVIP bus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet bus comprises an Ethernet bus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data communications occur via the HDLC protocol, wherein the framing/deframing circuit frames and deframes the data communications to and from the HDLC protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more telephone devices coupled to the interface cards include a plurality of telephones, wherein the plurality of telephones are coupled together through the second bus.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the processor controls voice communications between one of the telephones and the wide area network, wherein data communications are concurrently occurring between the wide area network and the packet bus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one of two or more communication protocols comprises raw data.

8. A method comprising:

providing a TDM bus coupled to a wide area network and to a plurality of telephony devices, wherein the TDM bus couples voice communications that stay in a circuit-switched form between the plurality of telephony devices and between one or more of the telephony devices and the wide area network;

providing a multiplexer coupled to the TDM bus, wherein the multiplexer maps data to predetermined slots of frames of the TDM bus;

providing a framer/deframer circuit coupled to the multiplexer, wherein the framer/deframer circuit comprises at least a first protocol circuit for processing data in accordance with a first protocol and a second protocol circuit for processing data in accordance with a second protocol;

providing a digital signal processor circuit coupled to the framer/deframer and the TDM bus, wherein the digital signal processor circuit provides at least a dial tone or DTMF digit detection for the plurality of telephony devices coupled to the TDM bus; and

providing a processor coupled to the digital signal processor circuit and the framer/deframer circuit;

wherein, the processor selectively couples data to the digital signal processor circuit for processing, wherein data communications over the wide area network in accordance with the first protocol occur through the first protocol circuit, multiplexer and TDM bus, wherein data communications over the wide area network in accordance with the second protocol occur through the second protocol circuit, multiplexer and TDM bus.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first protocol comprises HDLC.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second protocol comprises ATM.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second protocol s each comprise HDLC.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising a packet bus coupled to the processor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a packet data stream is coupled from the packet bus to the processor, wherein the packet data stream is converted to a first protocol data stream by the first protocol circuit, wherein the first protocol data stream is coupled to the wide area network via the multiplexer and TDM bus.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first protocol comprises HDLC.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising a packet bus coupled to the processor, wherein packet data communications occur over the packet bus and voice communications occur simultaneously over the TDM bus.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein one of the first or second protocols comprises raw data.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein voice communications and data communications concurrently occur between the system and the wide area network.