System and method for adapting analog systems to communicate with packet networks

• US 8,385,363 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ray, Amar N., Heinz, John M., Okeson, Warren K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): MURPHY, RHONDA L
• Application Number:
  US11/803,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20080285594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,114 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/45 using multi-frequency signalling H04Q1/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 Dual frequency signaling, DTMF

Abstract

A system for adapting an analog system to a packet network may include an electronic signal adapter in communication with the analog system and packet network. The electronic signal adapter may be configured to convert information received in data packets from the packet network into dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) signals and single tone analog signals and to communicate the DTMF and single tone analog signals to the analog system. The single tones may have a signal strength below approximately −25 dBm. The electronic signal adapter may further be configured to receive and convert analog signals into digital data for communication in data packets over a packet network.

Claims

1. A system for adapting an analog system to communicate over a packet network, said system comprising:

a security monitoring facility in communication with a packet network;

an electronic signal adapter in communication with an analog security system and the packet network, said electronic signal adapter operable to convert information received in a first set of data packets from the security monitoring facility over the packet network into dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) signals and single tone analog signals having a signal strength below −

25 dBm and durations of less than 150 ms, the electronic signal adapter configured to communicate the DTMF and single tone analog signals to the analog security system;

wherein said electronic signal adapter is further configured to convert single tones having the signal strength below −

25 dBm and durations of less than 150 ms received from the analog security system into a second set of data packets and transmit the second set of data packets over the packet network using a voice transmission path, and wherein the electronic signal adapter is further configured to mark each frequency in the second set of data packets with a different header to identify a single tone; and

an IP telephone coupled to the electronic signal adapter, said IP telephone configured to be utilized by the security monitoring facility during an alarm situation to communicate with a user.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic signal adapter includes:

a DTMF detector configured to detect the DTMF signals received from the analog system;

a single tone detector configured to detect single tone signals from the analog system; and

a signal processor in communication with the DTMF detector and single tone detector and configured to;

receive DTMF and single tone signals generated by the analog system;

convert the information represented by the DTMF and single tone signals into data; and

communicate the data over the packet network.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic signal adapter uses at least a 12-bit processor.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the single tones have signal strength below −

30 dBm.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic signal adapter includes a de-packetizer, de-compressor, un-digitizer, and codec.

6. A method for adapting an analog system to communicate over a packet network, said method comprising:

receiving data packets from a security monitoring facility over a packet network;

de-packetizing the data from the data packets;

converting, using a processor, the data into analog signals having amplitudes below −

25 dBm;

communicating the analog signals to an analog security system;

receiving a second set of analog signals from the analog security system, at least a portion of the second set of analog signals having amplitudes below −

25 dBm and wherein at least a portion of the second set of analog signals have durations of less than 150 ms;

digitizing the second set of analog signals into data representative of information represented by the second set of analog signals, wherein digitizing the analog signals includes converting single tones into a second set of data packets and marking each frequency in the second set of data packets with a different header to identify a single tone; and

communicating the second set of data packets over the packet network to the security monitoring facility using a voice transmission path.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising compressing the data in the second set of data packets prior to communicating the second set of data packets over the packet network.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein communicating the data packets includes communicating the data packets on the transport layer of the OSI model.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein digitizing the analog signals includes generating 12-bit data.