US 6,151,333 AGranted

Data/voice/fax compression multiplexer

AssigneeMulti-Tech Systems, Inc.

InventorsHarinarayana Arimilli, Ashish A. Thanawala, Vasant Kumar Kanchan

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Abstract

A data multiplexing network is described which multiplexes a plurality of asynchronous data channels with an asynchronous data stream representing compressed voice signals and/or facsimile signals onto a single synchronous data packet stream. The single synchronous data packet stream is then transmitted by a high speed statistical multiplexer over a composite link to a second site using a modified high-level synchronous data link control protocol with an overlay of a priority statistical multiplexing algorithm. The asynchronous data channels and the compressed voice channel and/or facsimile signals are demultiplexed and reconstructed for sending to other asynchronous computer terminals and to a standard telephone or facsimile analog port at the second site, respectively. PBX trunk interfaces are also provided to allow PBX's to share the composite link between sites.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A multiplexed information network, comprising:

a local multiplexer having a local telephone line interface, a local asynchronous data port, a local data processor connected for receiving asynchronous data from the local asynchronous data port and for placing the asynchronous data into asynchronous data packets each having separate headers, a local voice channel circuit means connected for receiving voice signals from the local telephone line interface and for digitizing and compressing the voice signals into compressed voice packets each having separate headers, the local data processor further operable for receiving the compressed voice packets from the voice channel circuit means and for multiplexing the asynchronous data packets and the compressed voice packets into a data stream, and the local data processor further connected to a local line interface for transmitting the data stream;
a remote multiplexer having a remote telephone line interface, a remote asynchronous data port, a remote data processor connected to a remote line interface for receiving the data stream, the remote data processor operable for demultiplexing the data stream to reproduce the asynchronous data packets and the compressed voice packets and for sending the compressed voice packets to a remote voice channel circuit means, the remote data processor further operable for removing the asynchronous data from the asynchronous data packets and for sending the asynchronous data to the remote asynchronous data port, the remote voice channel circuit means operable for decompressing and decoding the compressed voice packets to reproduce the voice signals and connected for sending the voice signals to the remote telephone line interface;
and
a composite link connected between the local line interface of the local multiplexer and the remote line interface of the remote multiplexer.

1 more element

A data multiplexer, comprising:

a plurality of asynchronous data interfaces;
collection means for collecting the asynchronous data from the plurality of asynchronous data interfaces, and for producing therefrom collected asynchronous data packets each having a header;
a telephone interface for receiving voice band signals;
conversion means for converting the voice band signals into digital samples;
compression means for compressing and encoding the digital samples and for producing therefrom compressed digital voice data;
means for placing the compressed digital voice data into compressed digital voice data packets each having headers;
multiplexer means connected for receiving the collected asynchronous data packets, for receiving the compressed digital voice data packets and for multiplexing the collected asynchronous data packets and the compressed digital voice data packets into a synchronous data stream, the multiplexer means including:
means for determining a link speed between the multiplexer and a second site;
means for selecting a time interval for sending high priority data packets each having a header;
means for dynamically assigning a packet size for a low priority data packet having a header with the packet size for the low priority data packet limited in length based upon the link speed and the time interval;
and
means for sending as many low priority data packets as will fit between the sending of high priority data packets within the time interval for sending high priority packets;
and
means for transmitting the synchronous data stream.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/903,032Filed 29 Jul 1997 · continuation
Priority: 19 Apr 1994
Granted: 21 Nov 2000
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

H04J 3/1688
Allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users, e.g. concentrated multiplexers, statistical multiplexers: the demands…
H04J 3/247
In which the allocation is indicated by an address the different channels being transmitted sequentially: aTM or packet multiplexing
H04L 65/765
Media network packet handling: intermediate
H04M 1/253
Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers: telephone sets using digital voice transmission