Patent ID: 6178180
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A communications adapter, wherein said communications adapter comprises:a first connector for electrically connecting a first transmission line;a first network interface extending into said communications adapter from said first connector,a data bus and;first signal processing means electrically connecting said data bus with said first network interface,said first signal processing means is operable in an ISDN mode, converting encoded data from said data bus for transmission in an ISDN format from said communications adapter through said first connector and converting data received by said communications adapter through said first connector in said ISDN format into an encoded format for transmission from said first signal processing means along said data bus,said first signal processing means is additionally operable in an ATM mode, converting encoded data from said data bus for transmission in an ATM format from said communications adapter through said first connector and converting data received by said communications adapter through said first connector in said ATM format into an encoded format for transmission from said first signal processing means along said data bus,said first signal processing means is programmably configurable for operation in said ISDN mode and in said ATM mode,said first signal processing means includes:first and second digital signal processors;a first parallel bus;a first serial to parallel interface connecting said first parallel data bus with said first network interface, wherein said first serial to parallel interface converts parallel data from said first parallel data bus into serial data driving said first network interface, and wherein said first serial to parallel interface converts serial data from said first network interface into parallel data driving said first parallel bus;a first buffer extending between said first digital signal processor and said first parallel data bus, wherein data is written to said first buffer and read therefrom by said first digital signal processor and by said first parallel bus; anda second buffer extending between said second digital signal processor and said first parallel data bus, wherein data is written to said second buffer and read therefrom by said second digital signal processor and by said first data bus,said first and second digital signal processors are each executing a program controlling operation thereof in said ISDN mode,said first digital signal processor converts data moving along a first plurality of ISDN channels through said first connector,said second digital signal processor converts data moving along a second plurality of ISDN channels through said first connector,data received by said communications adapter through said first connector is simultaneously written to said first and second buffers by said first parallel bus,data to be transmitted from said communications adapter along said first plurality of ISDN channels is written to said first buffer by said first digital signal processor, anddata to be transmitted from said communications adapter along said second plurality of ISDN channels is written to said second buffer by said second digital signal processor.