US 5,999,612 AGranted

Integrated telephony and data services over cable networks

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsJames M. Dunn, Alan George Ganek, Edith Helen Stern, Barry Edward Willner

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A newly developed computer adapter and call routing system allow for cable television networks (or other broadband networks) to offer digital telephony services seamlessly; i.e. in a manner such that a user receiving the service is unaware of any difference between that service and comparable telephone services presently supported by the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The adapter attaches to a computer, one or more telephones, the PSTN, and the broadband network. During utility power outages, switch circuitry in the adapter connects attached devices directly to lines in the PSTN, so that existing power support functions of the PSTN are fully utilizable. At other times, the adapter conditionally routes outgoing telephone calls from the attached devices to either the PSTN or cable network. Conditions determining the routing of outgoing calls can be set by users and also determined automatically (e.g. as logical functions of called numbers). At a signal concentration office in the broadband network (e.g. at head end of a cable network), a gateway system having newly defined telephone call handling capabilities provides connections to other networks, the latter including the PSTN, Internet and private broadband networks (e.g. leased channels on satellite radio networks). The resulting arrangement allows for a business "telecommuter" to receive telephone services seamlessly, both at home and in business facilities remote from home.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A system for providing telephone services pertaining to call redirection to telecommuters having separate business and residence sites of operation, each said telecommuter needing to be able to communicate seamlessly with telephone callers at both a respective business site and a respective residence site;

said system including a broadband network separate from the public switched telephone network (PSTN);
said broadband network having office centers and transmission lines extending from said office centers directly to said telecommuter sites;
said system further comprising
means at said residence site used by one of said telecommuters directly linking to said broadband network for providing said residence site with bidirectional data communication and telephone services through said broadband network;
said telephone services including services pertaining to redirection of telephone calls between a business site used by said one telecommuter and said residence site used by said one telecommuter;
said linking means also linking said residence site of said one telecommuter to existing infrastructure of said PSTN to allow for alternate use of said existing infrastructure and said broadband network in delivery of said telephone services to said residence site;
said linking means enabling said one of said telecommuters to have telephone call communications redirected between said residence and business sites used by said one telecommuter;
and allowing for telephone services pertinent to said redirection to be carried out selectively over said broadband network and said existing PSTN infrastructure;
said linking means including means for carrying telephone communication signals in digital form between said residence site and said broadband network, and means for carrying telephone communication signals in analog form between said residence site and said existing PSTN infrastructure;
and
means in said broadband network for conditionally having a telephone call communication directed to a said business site used by said one telecommuter redirected to said residence site used by said one telecommuter when said telephone call communication is not being answered at the respective business site to which it is directed;
said redirection of said directed call communication being over a selected one of a plurality of networks including said broadband network and said existing PSTN infrastructure.

9 more elements

A computer telephony adapter, for adapting digital computers to variably route telephone communications between residences housing individual ones of said computers and both the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a broadband network separate from said PSTN;

wherein each said residence receives separate and different types of communication services from said PSTN and said broadband network;
said adapter comprising:
means connecting said adapter with said broadband network, with said PSTN, with a digital computer housed in a said residence receiving said different communication services, and with analog telephone apparatus located in said residence receiving said different communication services;
analog-digital conversion circuits for handling telephone signals;
said circuits having an analog port for receiving and transmitting telephone signals in analog form and a digital port for transmitting and receiving corresponding telephone signals in digital form;
means linking said digital port to said digital computer and said broadband network;
and
switch means having different first and second states;
said switch means in said first state connecting said analog port of said conversion circuits directly to said analog telephone apparatus for transmitting converted telephone communications between said analog port and said digital port;
said switch means in said second state connecting said analog telephone apparatus directly to said PSTN.

7 more elements

A system for routing telephone calls through a broadband network connecting to user sites capable of receiving telephone call services directly from the public switched telephone network (PSTN), said call routing being provided by said system on a "seamless" basis such that telephone calls can be directed to a common telephone number at any said user site through both said broadband network and the PSTN;

said system comprising:
adapter means, located at individual said user sites containing a programmable digital computer and a telephone attachable to said adapter means, for interfacing at respective user sites between said broadband network and both a said digital computer and telephone;
said adapter means and computer at each respective user site cooperatively sustaining signal communication and signal processing functions requisite to transmitting telephone calls through said broadband network;
and
signal processing means attached to a signal distribution node of said broadband network, said signal distribution node being so located in respect to user sites connected thereto as to be able to receive signals from and send signals to multiple said user sites;
said signal processing means also being attached to plural communication networks other than said broadband network;
said plural other networks including the PSTN and the Internet;
said signal processing means serving to conduct telephone call communications relative to said individual user sites, alternately through said broadband network and any of said plural other networks.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/863,603Filed 27 May 1997
Granted: 7 Dec 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H04M 7/0069
Details of access arrangements to the networks: comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
H04B 7/18578
Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems: satellite systems for providing broadband data service to individual earth stations
H04M 1/738
Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers: interface circuits for coupling substations to external telephone lines
H04M 7/0033
Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services: notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer