Method and apparatus for dual-mode internet protocol station/gateway

• US 20060248221A1
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Hottel, Andrew, Pravongviengkham, Thomas, Camins, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/116,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20060248221A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40013 Details regarding a bus controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge

Abstract

A communications device is provided that includes a router and a local interface. The communications device also supports a plurality of remote interfaces. The remote interfaces are daisy-chain wired to the communications device and a plurality of communications devices may be operably connected to each other using an Internet Protocol network to form a communications system. The communications system may be used as part of a nurse call system. Also, methods that may be implemented by the above device and system are provided.

Claims

1. A communications device, the device comprising:

a router configured to distribute audio signals to and from a remote interface, to distribute power to the remote interface, to accommodate remote audio communication with the remote interface via a non-Internet Protocol (IP)-based protocol and to accommodate communication with an IP-based network; and

a local interface configured to support local audio communication at the communications device.

2. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the router is further configured to accommodate analog-based audio communication between the router and the remote interface.

3. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the router is further configured to distribute data to and from the remote interface.

4. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the router is further configured to prioritize and switch the audio signals for a plurality of remote interfaces.

5. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the router is further configured to perform at least one of decoding, packetization, echo-cancellation, jitter-buffering and filtering of the audio signals.

6. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the router is further configured to provide at least one of memory and processing power to benefit the remote interface.

7. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the router and the local interface are configured to be used in a nurse call system.

8. A communications system, the system comprising:

a remote interface; and

a first communications device, the first communications device including,

a router configured to distribute audio signals to and from the remote interface, to distribute power to the remote interface, to accommodate remote audio communication with the remote interface via a non-Internet Protocol (IP)-based protocol and to accommodate communication with an IP-based network; and

a local interface configured to support local audio communication at the first communications device.

9. The communications system of claim 8, wherein the remote interface comprises:

a microphone;

a speaker; and

an Input/Output device.

10. The communications system of claim 8, wherein the remote interface is daisy-chain wired to the communications device.

11. The communications system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the remote interface and the local interface is configured to support full-duplex audio signals.

12. The communications system of claim 11, wherein the remote interface is connected to the communications device by an audio bus and wherein the router controls the audio bus.

13. The communications system of claim 8, wherein the router is further configured to provide at least one of memory and processing power to benefit the remote interface

14. The communications system of claim 8, wherein the router is further configured to accommodate analog-based audio communication between the router and the remote interface.

15. The communications system of claim 8, further comprising:

a second communications device operably connected to the first communications device via the IP-based network, wherein the second communications device is configured to communicate directly with the first communications device and indirectly with the remote interface through the first communications device.

16. A communications method, the method comprising:

transferring audio signals between a remote interface and a first communications device using a non-Internet Protocol (IP)-based protocol;

providing power to the remote interface from the first communications device;

transferring the audio signal between the first communications device and a second communications device using an IP-based protocol; and

allowing a local interface that is attached to the first communications device to transfer the audio signals with the first communications device.

17. The communications method of claim 16, further comprising:

daisy-chain wiring the remote interface and the first communications device to each other.

18. The communications method of claim 16, further comprising:

accommodating analog-based audio communication between the first communications device and the remote interface.

19. The communications method of claim 16, further comprising:

transferring data between the first communications device and the remote interface.

20. The communications method of claim 16, further comprising:

using the first communications device to provide at least one of memory and processing power to benefit the remote interface.

21. A communications device, the device comprising:

local interfacing means for supporting local audio communication;

remote interfacing means for supporting remote audio communication; and

routing means for distributing audio signals and power to the remote interfacing means, for accommodating remote audio communication with the remote interfacing means via a non-Internet Protocol (IP)-based protocol, and for accommodating communication with an IP-based network.