Patent ID: 6249527
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
A network access server embodied in a communication access chassis processing calls from a plurality of remote users via a digital telephone line simultaneously and connecting said remote users to a computer network, said communication access chassis comprising, in combination,a telephone interface connected to said digital telephone line for receiving said calls from said remote users;a network interface connecting said chassis to said computer network and routing said calls onto said computer network;a signal conversion system coupled to said telephone interface for conversion of telephone signals from said remote users into a digital format compatible with signal processing requirements of a general purpose computer,at least one internal chassis bus transmitting data between said telephone interface and said signal conversion system and between said signal conversion system and said network interface; anda general purpose computing platform installed in said communications chassis running a commercially available general purpose computer operating system, said general purpose computing platform further comprising an interface providing direct communication access between said general purpose computing platform and said internal chassis bus, thereby enabling said general purpose computing platform to receive and terminate said incoming calls from said telephone interface.