Communication network with bandwidth managers for allocating bandwidth to different types of traffic

A switched telecommunications network comprising:

• a first switching means for switching a first type of traffic;
• a second switching means for switching a second type of traffic;
• a communications link connecting a user's site to the network;
• a bandwidth manager, at the user's end of the communications links, arranged to multiplex traffic of the first and second types for transmission over the link;
• a complementary bandwidth manager, at the switching end of the link, arranged to de-multiplex the first and second traffic types for application to respective switching means,
• a third switching means for switching a third type of traffic,
• wherein the bandwidth manager is arranged to multiplex the first, second and third types of traffic, and
• wherein the complementary bandwidth manager is arranged to de-multiplex the first, second and third types of traffic.

A switched telecommunications network comprising:

• a first switching means for switching a first type of traffic;
• a second switching means for switching a second type of traffic;
• a communications link connecting a user's site to the network;
• a bandwidth manager, at the user's end of the communications link, arranged to multiplex traffic of the first and second types for transmission over the link;
• a complementary bandwidth manager, at the switching end of the link, arranged to de-multiplex the first and second traffic types for application to respective switching means, and
• means for multiplexing voice data or audio data,
• wherein the bandwidth manager includes means for identifying voice data, and for compressing the voice data to facilitate efficient transmission through the network.

A switched telecommunications network comprising:

• a first switching means for switching a first type of traffic;
• a second switching means for switching a second type of traffic;
• a communications link connecting a user's site to the network;
• a bandwidth manager, at the user's end of the communications link, arranged to multiplex traffic of the first and second types for transmission over the link;
• a complementary bandwidth manager, at the switching end of the link, arranged to de-multiplex the first and second traffic types for application to respective switching means, and
• means for multiplexing voice data or audio data,
• wherein the bandwidth manager includes means for identifying facsimile encoded data, and for re-coding the facsimile data to facilitate efficient transmission through the network.

A switched telecommunications network comprising:

• a first switching means for switching a first type of traffic;
• a second switching means for switching a second type of traffic;
• a communications link connecting a user's site to the network;
• a bandwidth manager, at the user's end of the communications link, arranged to multiplex traffic of the first and second types for transmission over the link;
• a complementary bandwidth manager, at the switching end of the link, arranged to de-multiplex the first and second traffic types for application to respective switching means, and
• means for multiplexing voice data or audio data,
• wherein the bandwidth manager includes means for identifying audio encoded computer originated data from a modem, and for re-coding said data to facilitate efficient transmission.

A method of communicating over a network, the method comprising steps of:

• switching a first type of traffic via a first switching means;
• switching a second type of traffic via a second switching means;
• connecting a user's site to the network via a communications link;
• multiplexing traffic of the first and second types for transmission over the link at the user's end of the link;
• de-multiplexing the first and second traffic types for application to respective switching means at the switching end of the link, and
• allocating bandwidth to particular types of traffic in response to customer demand.

A method of communicating over a network, the method comprising steps of:

• switching a first type of traffic via a first switching means;
• switching a second type of traffic via a second switching means;
• connecting a user's site to the network via a communications link;
• multiplexing traffic of the first and second types for transmission over the link at the user's end of the link;
• de-multiplexing the first and second traffic types for application to respective switching means at the switching end of the link, and
• multiplexing a third traffic type.

A method of communicating over a network, the method comprising steps of:

• switching a first type of traffic via a first switching means;
• switching a second type of traffic via a second switching means;
• connecting a user's site to the network via a communications link;
• multiplexing traffic of the first and second types for transmission over the link at the user's end of the link;
• de-multiplexing the first and second traffic types for application to respective switching means at the switching end of the link,
• wherein one of the traffic types is voice data or audio data,
• identifying voice data, and
• compressing the voice data to reduce transmission bandwidth requirements.

A method of communicating over a network, the method comprising steps of:

• switching a first type of traffic via a first switching means;
• switching a second type of traffic via a second switching means;
• connecting a user's site to the network via a communications link;
• multiplexing traffic of the first and second types for transmission over the link at the user's end of the link;
• de-multiplexing the first and second traffic types for application to respective switching means at the switching end of the link,
• wherein one of the traffic types is voice data or audio modulated data,
• identifying facsimile encoded data, and
• re-coding said facsimile data so as to facilitate efficient transmission.

A method of communicating over a network, the method comprising steps of:

• switching a first type of traffic via a first switching means;
• switching a second type of traffic via a second switching means;
• connecting a user's site to the network via a communications link;
• multiplexing traffic of the first and second types for transmission over the link at the user's end of the link;
• de-multiplexing the first and second traffic types for application to respective switching means at the switching end of the link,
• wherein one of the traffic types is voice data or audio data,
• identifying audio encoded computer originated data from a modem, and
• re-coding said data to facilitate efficient transmission.