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

• US 7,142,535 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Michael D., Kubler, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US10/822,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20050152319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 370/347, 370/235, 370/236, 370/252, 370/232, 370/412, 370/419, 370/508, 370/516, 370/517, 379/3, 379/406.01, 379/406.06, 379/406.08
• 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 circuit for processing data representative of voice signals, the circuit having two signal paths comprising:

in a first signal path,

a queue for storing first voice data representative of a first voice signal; and

a digital to analog converter having an output, the digital to analog converter for receiving the first voice data from the queue, the digital to analog converter converting the first voice data to a first analog representation of the first voice signal, and,

in a second signal path,

an analog to digital converter having an input, the analog to digital converter for converting a second analog representation of a second voice signal to second voice data; and

signal processing circuitry for removing from the second voice signal represented by the second voice data, a portion of the first voice signal representative of the first voice data, and

wherein the circuit further comprises at least one processor that enables processing of received voice packets into the first voice data and processing of the second voice data into transmit voice packets; and

wherein the at least one processor enables adjusting the operation of the queue according to a rate of packet arrival.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the signal processing circuitry comprises a subtractor.

3. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the signal processing circuitry delays the voice data representative of the portion of the first voice data.

4. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the portion removed comprises undesirable components of the first voice signal present in the second voice signal.

5. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the operation of the queue is adjusted based upon a propagation delay of a communication network.

6. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one signal coupling circuit for coupling voice signals from a two wire telephone network connection to the input of the analog to digital converter; and

the at least one signal coupling circuit for coupling voice signals from the output of the digital to analog converter to the two wire telephone network connection.

7. A method of processing data representative of voice signals, the method comprising:

receiving first voice data representative of a first voice signal;

queuing the first voice data;

converting the first voice data into a first analog representation of the first voice signal;

converting a second analog representation of a second voice signal into second voice data;

removing from the second voice signal represented by the second voice data, a portion of the first voice signal representative of the first voice data; and

adjusting queuing and converting the first voice data according to a rate of packet arrival.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein removing comprises subtracting.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein removing comprises delaying the portion of the first voice signal represented by the first voice data.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the portion removed comprises undesirable components of the first voice signal present in the second voice signal.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

processing received voice packets to produce the first voice data; and

processing the second voice data to produce transmit voice packets.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

coupling to a two-wire telephone network connection, voice signals representing the first analog representation of the first voice signal; and

coupling voice signals from the two wire telephone network connection to produce a voice signal representing the first analog representation of the first voice signal and the second analog representation of the second voice signal.

13. A computer-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections for processing data representative of voice signals, the code sections executable by a processor to perform the operations comprising:

receiving first voice data representative of a first voice signal;

queuing the first voice data;

converting the first voice data into a first analog representation of the first voice signal;

converting a second analog representation of a second voice signal into second voice data;

removing from the second voice signal represented by the second voice data, a portion of the first voice signal representative of the first voice data; and

adjusting queuing and converting the first voice data according to a rate of packet arrival.

14. The machine-readable storage of claim 13 wherein removing comprises subtracting.

15. The computer-redable storage of claim 13 wherein removing comprises delaying the portion of the first voice signal represented by the first voice data.

16. The computer-readable storage of claim 13 wherein the portion removed comprises undesirable components of the first voice signal present in the second voice signal.

17. The computer-readable storage of claim 13 wherein the operations further comprise:

processing received voice packets to produce the first voice data; and

processing the second voice data to produce transmit voice packets.

18. The computer-readable storage of claim 13 wherein the operations further comprise:

adjusting queuing and converting the first voice data according to a propagation delay of a communication network.

19. The computer-readable storage of claim 13 wherein the operations further comprise:

coupling to a two-wire telephone network connection, voice signals representing the first analog representation of the first voice signal; and

coupling voice signals from the two wire telephone network connection to produce a voice signal representing the first analog representation of the first voice signal and the second analog representation of the second voice signal.

20. A system for processing data representative of voice signals, the system comprising:

at least one processor that enables receiving first voice data representative of a first voice signal;

at least one queue located within or external to the at least one processor;

the at least one processor enabling queuing the first voice data into the at least on queue;

the at least one processor enabling converting the first voice data into a first analog representation of the first voice signal;

the at least one processor enabling converting a second analog representation of a second voice signal into second voice data;

the at least one processor enabling removing from the second voice signal represented by the second voice data, a portion of the first voice signal representative of the first voice data; and

wherein the at least one processor enables adjusting queuing and converting the first voice data according to a rate of packet arrival.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein removing comprises subtracting.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein removing comprises delaying the portion of the first voice signal represented by the first voice data.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the portion removed comprises undesirable components of the first voice signal present in the second voice signal.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein the at least one processor enables processing of received voice packets to produce the first voice data, and enables processing of the second voice data to produce transmit voice packets.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein the at least one processor enables adjusting queuing and converting the first voice data according to a propagation delay of a communication network.

26. The system of claim 20 wherein the voice signals representing the first analog representation of the first voice signal are communicatively coupled to a two-wire telephone network connection, and voice signals from the two wire telephone network connection are communicatively coupled to produce a voice signal representing the first analog representation of the first voice signal and the second analog representation of the second voice signal.

27. A circuit for processing data representative of voice signals, the circuit having two signal paths comprising:

in a first signal path,

a queue for storing first voice data representative of a first voice signal; and

a digital to analog converter having an output, the digital to analog converter for receiving the first voice data from the queue, the digital to analog converter converting the first voice data to a first analog representation of the first voice signal, and,

in a second signal path,

an analog to digital converter having an input, the analog to digital converter for converting a second analog representation of a second voice signal to second voice data;

signal processing circuitry for removing from the second voice signal represented by the second voice data, a portion of the first voice signal representative of the first voice data; and

wherein the operation of the queue is adjusted based upon a propagation delay of a communication network.

28. The circuit of claim 27 wherein the signal processing circuitry comprises a subtractor.

29. The circuit of claim 27 wherein the signal processing circuitry delays the voice data representative of the portion of the first voice data.

30. The circuit of claim 27 wherein the portion removed comprises undesirable components of the first voice signal present in the second voice signal.

31. The circuit of claim 27 further comprising:

at least one processor that enables processing of received voice packets into the first voice data; and

the at least one processor enabling processing of the second voice data into transmit voice packets.

32. The circuit of claim 27 further comprising:

at least one signal coupling circuit for coupling voice signals from a two wire telephone network connection to the input of the analog to digital converter; and

the at least one signal coupling circuit for coupling voice signals from the output of the digital to analog converter to the two wire telephone network connection.

33. A method of processing data representative of voice signals, the method comprising:

receiving first voice data representative of a first voice signal;

queuing the first voice data;

converting the first voice data into a first analog representation of the first voice signal;

converting a second analog representation of a second voice signal into second voice data;

removing from the second voice signal represented by the second voice data, a portion of the first voice signal representative of the first voice data; and

adjusting operation of the queuing based upon a propagation delay of a communication network.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein removing comprises subtracting.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein removing comprises delaying the portion of the first voice signal represented by the first voice data.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the portion removed comprises undesirable components of the first voice signal present in the second voice signal.

37. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

processing received voice packets to produce the first voice data; and

processing the second voice data to produce transmit voice packets.

38. The method of claim 33 further comprising adjusting operation of the queuing according to a rate of packet arrival.

39. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

coupling to a two-wire telephone network connection, voice signals representing the first analog representation of the first voice signal; and

coupling voice signals from the two wire telephone network connection to produce a voice signal representing the first analog representation of the first voice signal and the second analog representation of the second voice signal.

40. A computer-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections for processing data representative of voice signals, the code sections executable by a processor to perform the operations comprising:

receiving first voice data representative of a first voice signal;

queuing the first voice data;

converting the first voice data into a first analog representation of the first voice signal;

converting a second analog representation of a second voice signal into second voice data;

removing from the second voice signal represented by the second voice data, a portion of the first voice signal representative of the first voice data; and

adjusting queuing and converting the first voice data according to a propagation delay of a communication network.

41. The computer-readable storage of claim 40 wherein removing comprises subtracting.

42. The computer-readable storage of claim 40 wherein removing comprises delaying the portion of the first voice signal represented by the first voice data.

43. The computer-readable storage of claim 40 wherein the portion removed comprises undesirable components of the first voice signal present in the second voice signal.

44. The computer-readable storage of claim 40 wherein the operations further comprise:

processing received voice packets to produce the first voice data; and

processing the second voice data to produce transmit voice packets.

45. The computer-readable storage of claim 40 wherein the operations further comprise:

coupling to a two-wire telephone network connection, voice signals representing the first analog representation of the first voice signal; and

coupling voice signals from the two wire telephone network connection to produce a voice signal representing the first analog representation of the first voice signal and the second analog representation of the second voice signal.

46. A system for processing data representative of voice signals, the system comprising:

at least one processor that enables receiving first voice data representative of a first voice signal;

at least one queue located within or external to the at least one processor;

the at least one processor enabling queuing the first voice data into the at least on queue;

the at least one processor enabling converting the first voice data into a first analog representation of the first voice signal;

the at least one processor enabling converting a second analog representation of a second voice signal into second voice data;

the at least one processor enabling removing from the second voice signal represented by the second voice data, a portion of the first voice signal representative of the first voice data; and

wherein the at least one processor enables adjusting queuing and converting the first voice data according to a propagation delay of a communication network.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein removing comprises subtracting.

48. The system of claim 46 wherein removing comprises delaying the portion of the first voice signal represented by the first voice data.

49. The system of claim 46 wherein the portion removed comprises undesirable components of the first voice signal present in the second voice signal.

50. The system of claim 46 wherein the at least one processor enables processing of received voice packets to produce the first voice data, and enables processing of the second voice data to produce transmit voice packets.

51. The system of claim 46 wherein the voice signals representing the first analog representation of the first voice signal are communicatively coupled to a two-wire telephone network connection, and voice signals from the two wire telephone network connection are communicatively coupled to produce a voice signal representing the first analog representation of the first voice signal and the second analog representation of the second voice signal.