Method and apparatus for replacing lost PSTN data in a packet network

A variable power white noise generator comprising:

• a multi-bit register storing a signed quantity in a predetermined format representing a magnitude with a sign;
• a linear feedback shift register connected to a sign bit in the multi-bit register, the linear feedback shift register including an output bit determining the sign of the magnitude;
• a feedback network connected to the linear feedback shift register, the feedback network implementing a generator function;
• and
• a register control coupled to the multi-bit register that stores the magnitude in the multi-bit register.

A method for replacing lost PSTN data in a packet network, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving data packets from the packet network;
• detecting lost data packets and producing in response a lost data output indicating when replacement data needs to be provided;
• removing overhead information from the data packets to produce output data;
• storing a plurality of output data in an extended playback buffer;
• generating duplicate replacement data using the extended playback buffer, the duplicate replacement data starting with the oldest output data stored in the extended playback buffer;
• placing the duplicate replacement data on an external network when the lost data output indicates replacement data needs to be provided and placing the output data on the external network otherwise.

A method for replacing lost PSTN packet data in a packet network, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving data packets from the packet network;
• detecting lost data packets and producing in response a lost data output indicating when replacement data needs to be provided;
• removing overhead information from the data packets to produce output data;
• generating white noise replacement data using a variable power white noise generator producing the white noise replacement data by the steps of:
• using a linear feedback shift register to control a sign bit of a multi-bit register;
• storing a magnitude in the multi-bit register;
• outputting the sign bit and magnitude as the white noise replacement data;
• and
• shifting the contents of the linear feedback shift register;
• and
• placing the white noise replacement data on an external network when the lost data output indicates replacement data need to be provided and placing the output data on the external network otherwise.