Automatic detection and processing of asynchronous data for bandwidth reduction

An apparatus for relaying data comprising:

• an interface module for receiving an obtained data stream from a data source, the obtained data stream having a first data format and comprising a bi-directional communication call;
• a switcher module coupled to the interface module and configured to direct the obtained data stream in the first format for forwarding over a network;
• a decoder module associated with the switcher module and configured to forward the obtained data stream in the first format and while monitoring the obtained data stream to detect a data transfer mode associated with inclusion of synchronization characters in the obtained data stream without interrupting the forwarding of the obtained data stream in the first format over the network;
• wherein the decoder module is further configured to remove a plurality of synchronization characters from the obtained data stream to produce a bandwidth-reduced data stream having a second data format different from the first data format in response to detecting the data transfer mode;
• wherein the switcher module is further configured to direct the bandwidth-reduced data stream in the second format instead of the obtained data stream for forwarding over the network;
• wherein the decoder module is further configured to, in response to determining that detection of a data transfer mode associated with inclusion of synchronization characters has ceased, send a control message to a second network device, wherein the control message indicates the determination that detection of a data transfer mode associated with inclusion of synchronization characters has ceased;
• and
• wherein receipt of the control message by the second network device causes the second network device to cease insertion, into the bandwidth-reduced data stream, of the synchronization characters that the decoder module had removed from the obtained data stream.

A system for relaying data comprising:

• means for obtaining a data stream in a first data format and comprising a bi-directional communication call from a data source;
• means for forwarding the obtained data stream in the first data format over a network;
• means for while forwarding the obtained data stream in the first data format over the network, monitoring the obtained data stream in the first data format to detect a data transfer mode associated with inclusion of synchronization characters in the obtained data stream without interrupting the forwarding of the obtained data stream in the first data format over the network;
• means for, if the data transfer mode is detected, then removing a plurality of synchronization characters from the obtained data stream to produce a bandwidth-reduced data stream having a second data format different from the first data format and forwarding the bandwidth-reduced data stream instead of the obtained data stream over the network in response to detecting the data transfer mode;
• means for, in response to determining that detection of a data transfer mode associated with inclusion of synchronization characters has ceased, sending a control message to a second network device, wherein the control message indicates the determination that detection of a data transfer mode associated with inclusion of synchronization characters has ceased;
• and
• wherein receipt of the control message by the second network device causes the second network device to cease insertion, into the bandwidth-reduced data stream, of the synchronization characters that the means for removing had removed from the obtained data stream.