Abstract:
A multi-services communications device provides internal control over communications, so that computer control input is not required. Communications performance is improved, especially for real time communications such as telephone conversations, because the multi-services communications device does not wait on late or failed control input from the computer. The multi-services communications device is comprised of a communications processing system connected to a network interface, telephone interface, video interface, and computer interface. The communications processing system controls: 1) the exchange of telephone signals with a telephone connection , 2) the exchange of video signals with a video connection, 3) the exchange of data with a computer connection, and 4) the exchange of the data, video signals, and voice signals with a network connection.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application entitled, “AUTONOMOUS MULTI-SERVICES CARD”, filed on Nov. 20, 1998, Ser. No. 09/197,044 (Sprint Docket 1239), and assigned to the same entity as this application.  
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention is related to the field of communications, and in particular, to a multi-services communications device that connects communications devices, such as a computer, a telephone device, and a video device, to a communications network.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    A network interface card allows a computer to communicate with a communications network. Typically, the computer provides control input to the network interface card. Unfortunately, communications performance is adversely affected by using the computer to control the network interface card.  
           [0006]    The computer typically executes an operating system and a variety of software applications. Thus, computer processing time is shared across multiple software components. Communications performance suffers as a result because the computer may not provide control input to the network interface card in a timely manner. Since many forms of communication are real-time in nature, such as a telephone conversation, the lack of timely computer control can severely disrupt communications. In addition one of the software applications may cause the computer to crash, so that no control input is provided to the network interface card. In this case, communications would cease altogether.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The invention solves the above problem with a multi-services communications device that provides internal control over communications so that computer control input is not required. Communications performance is improved, especially for real time communications such as telephone conversations, because the multi-services communications device does not wait on late or failed control input from the computer.  
           [0008]    The multi-services communications device comprises a computer interface that is configured for coupling to a computer connection and that is operational to exchange data communications with the computer connection. The multi-services communications device comprises a telephone interface that is configured for coupling to a telephone connection and that is operational to exchange analog telephone signals with the telephone connection. The multi-services communications device comprises a video interface that is configured for coupling to a video connection and that is operational to exchange video signals with the video connection. The multi-services communications device comprises a network interface that is configured for coupling to a network connection. The network interface is operational to exchange asynchronous transfer mode communications, Ethernet communications, internet communications, digital subscriber line communications, and/or modem communications with the network connection. The multi-services communications device comprises a communications processing system that is operational to control the exchange of the data communications with the computer connection. The communications processing system is operational to control the exchange of the analog telephone signals with the telephone connection without any control input from the computer connection. The communications processing system is operational to control the exchange of the video signals with the video connection. The communications processing system is operational to control the exchange of asynchronous transfer mode communications, Ethernet communications, internet communications, digital subscriber line communications, and modem communications with the network connection. Communication paths connect the communications processing system with the computer interface, the telephone interface, the video interface, and the network interface. An enclosure houses the communication paths, the communications processing system, the computer interface, the telephone interface, the video interface, and the network interface.  
           [0009]    It should be noted that the communications processing system can control the exchange of telephone or video signals without any control input from the computer. This represents a distinct advantage over prior systems that rely on the computer for control input. In these prior systems, communications between the telephone device and the communications network would suffer or fail if the control input from the computer was delayed.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-services communications device configuration and environment in an example of the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a multi-services communications device configuration in an example of the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of a multi-services communications device central controller in an example of the invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 illustrates a protocol stack used by the multi-services communications device in an example of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 depicts a multi-services communications device  100 . The multi-services communications device  100  is comprised of a communications processing system  101 , computer interface  102 , telephone interface  103 , network interface  104 , and video interface  105 . Communication paths connect the communications processing system  101  to the computer interface  102 , the telephone interface  103 , the network interface  104 , and the video interface  105 . The multi-services communications device  100  is housed in an enclosure that could be a conventional plastic or metal box, such as the type typically used to house electronic components. Those skilled in the art will recognize that some conventional elements of the multi-services communications device  100  have been omitted for clarity.  
         [0015]    The computer interface  102  is coupled to a computer  150  by a computer connection  152 . The telephone interface  103  is connected to a telephone device  170  by telephone connection  172 . The network interface  104  is connected to a communications network  180  by a network connection  182 . The video interface  105  is coupled to a video device  190  by a video connection  192 . If desired, the telephone connection  172  and the video connection  192  could be the same physical connection, and the telephone interface  103  and the video interface  105  could be integrated together.  
         [0016]    The computer interface  102  could be any circuitry and logic that can be coupled to the computer connection  152  and that exchanges data with the computer connection  152 . The telephone interface  103  could be any circuitry and logic that can be coupled to the telephone connection  172  and that exchanges telephone signals with the telephone connection  172 . The video interface  105  could be any circuitry and logic that can be coupled to the video connection  192  and that exchanges video signals with the video connection  192 . The network interface  104  could be any circuitry and logic that can be coupled to the network connection  182  and that exchanges the data, video signals, and voice signals with the network connection  182 . The communications processing system  101  could be any circuitry and logic that controls: 1) the exchange of data with the computer connection  152 , 2) the exchange of telephone signals with the telephone connection  172 , 3) the exchange of video signals with the video connection  192 , and 4) the exchange of the data, video signals, and telephone signals with the network connection  182 .  
         [0017]    The computer  150  communicates with the communications network  180  through the computer interface  102 , the communications processing system  101 , and the network interface  104 . The telephone device  170  communicates with the communications network  180  through the telephone interface  103 , the communications processing system  101 , and the network interface  104 . The video device  190  communicates with the communications network  180  through the video interface  105 , the communications processing system  101 , and the network interface  104 .  
         [0018]    It should be noted that the communications processing system  101  can control the exchange of voice or video signals without any control input from the computer  150 . This represents a distinct advantage over prior systems that rely on the computer  150  for control input. In these prior systems, communications between the telephone device  170  and the communications network  180  would suffer or fail if the control input from the computer  150  was delayed.  
         [0019]    FIGS.  2 - 4  depict a detailed example of a multi-services communications device. The invention is not restricted to this specific example, and is only restricted by the claims following this description. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various features and functions described below can be combined with the invention as described above to provide multiple implementations of the invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 depicts a multi-services communications device  200 . The multi-services communications device  200  is comprised of: computer interface port  210 , Modulator/Demodulator (modem) port  211 , Ethernet port  212 , Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) port  213 , Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) port  214 , telephone port  215 , video port  216 , controller memory  217 , battery terminal  218 , input power  219 , and central controller  220 . Each port  210 - 216  could be comprised of a single port or could include multiple ports of the type shown. Those skilled in the art will recognize that some conventional elements of the multi-services communications device  200  have been omitted for clarity.  
         [0021]    The central controller  220  is connected to the computer interface port  210  by a path  240 . The central controller  220  is connected to the modem port  211  by a path  241 . The central controller  220  is connected to the Ethernet port  212  by a path  242 . The central controller  220  is connected to the DSL port  213  by a path  243 . The central controller  220  is connected to the ATM port  214  by a path  244 . The central controller  220  is connected to the telephone port  215  by a path  245 . The central controller  220  is connected to the video port  216  by a path  246 . The computer interface port  210  can be coupled to the computer connection  152 . The network connection  182  can be coupled to the modem port  211 , Ethernet port  212 , DSL port  213 , or ATM port  214 . The telephone port  215  can be coupled to the telephone connection  172 . The video port  216  can be coupled to the video connection  192 .  
         [0022]    The computer interface port  210  could be a conventional interface port, such as Ethernet, ATM, Universal Serial Bus (USB), I.E.E.E. 1394, Fiber Channel, or Small Computer System Interface (SCSI). The modem port  211  could be a conventional serial port to an analog network, such as a telephony modem, RF cable modem, or RF wireless modem. The ports  212 - 216  could be conventional components for their respective protocol.  
         [0023]    The multi-services communications device  200  may receive power from a battery connected to the battery terminal  218  or a conventional power outlet connected to the input power  219 . A battery power option is required if telephone service is desired during a power outage to the input power  219 .  
         [0024]    The central controller  220  allows the multi-services communications device  200  to operate autonomously from the host processor in the computer  150 . Thus, the multi-services communications device  200  does not require any control input from the computer  150  to operate with robust functionality. The central controller  220  includes processing circuitry to execute software to control the exchange of various communications between the ports  210 - 216 . Thus, communications can be exchanged from any of the ports  210 - 216  to any of the other ports  210 - 216 . For example, a video device may communicate with a computer through the video port  216 , central controller  220 , and computer interface port  210 . Communications include modem, Ethernet, ATM, DSL, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), telephony, and video. The central controller  220  also controls the exchange of data through the computer interface port  210 . The controller memory  217  stores some of the software executed by the central controller  220 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 depicts the central controller  220 . The central controller  220  is comprised of: a modem controller  221 , Ethernet controller  222 , DSL controller  223 , ATM controller  224 , telephone controller  225 , video controller  226 , processor memory  227 , and processing core  230 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that some conventional elements of the central controller  220  have been omitted for clarity.  
         [0026]    The processing core  230  is connected to the modem controller  221 , Ethernet controller  222 , ATM controller  224 , telephone controller  225 , video controller  226 , and processor memory  227 . The modem controller  221  is connected to the Ethernet controller  222  and the ATM controller  224 . The DSL controller  223  is connected to Ethernet controller  222  and the ATM controller  224 . The modem controller  221  is connected to the path  241 . The Ethernet controller  222  is connected to the path  242 . The DSL controller  223  is connected to the path  243 . The ATM controller  224  is connected to the path  244 . The telephone controller  225  is connected to the path  245 . The video controller  226  is connected to the path  246 . The processing core  230  is connected to the path  240  and the path  247 .  
         [0027]    The controllers  221 - 226  are conventional circuitry that are operational to transfer communications in their respective protocols through their respective ports under the control of the central processing core  230 . The controllers  221 - 224  include conventional auto-sensing functionality to process their own respective protocol and ignore other protocols. The telephone and video controllers  225 - 226  include digital signal processors that include coder/decoder (codec) functionality to convert between analog and digital signals. These digital signal processors also include functionality to provide compression and echo cancellation.  
         [0028]    The processing core  230  includes circuitry to execute application software, typically stored in the processor memory  227  or controller memory  217 . The processing core  230  directs the exchange of communications among the controllers  221 - 226  and the computer interface port  210 , and arbitrates access to the network  180 . The processing core  230  also executes TCP/IP software to exchange communications in the TCP/IP format and provide a routing/bridging function. To support video, the processing core  230  implements the International Telecommunications Union H.321 and H.323 video-conferencing standards.  
         [0029]    To support voice, the processing core  230  executes application software to implement Voice over IP and Voice over ATM standards. The processing core  230  responds to in-coming and out-going calls by executing Telecommunications Information Network Architecture Consortium (TINA-C) Service Architecture Provider Agent application software. The telephone controller  225  provides an analog telephony interface to the path  245  under the control of the processing core  230 . The analog telephony interface in the telephone controller  225  detects off-hook conditions, on-hook conditions, Multi-Frequency (MF) tones, and Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) tones; and provides dial tone, ring current, ringback tones, busy tones, and other standard telephony signaling tones. An example of a provider agent and analog telephony interface is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/128,944, entitled “Telecommunications Provider Agent”, filed on Aug. 5, 1998, and which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 depicts one example a protocol stack for the multi-services communications device  200 . The various mappings described below indicate the protocol combinations that can be used. At layer  1 , ATM, modem, DSL, Ethernet, computer interface, analog telephone, and analog video are available. ATM, modem, and DSL layer  1  map to ATM layer  2 . DSL layer  1  also maps to Ethernet layer  2 . Ethernet layer  1  maps to Ethernet layer  2 . Modem layer  1  also maps to Ethernet layer  2  and serial line layer  2 . Computer interface layer  1  maps to computer interface layer  2 . Analog telephone layer  1  and analog video layer  1  map to codecs layer  2 .  
         [0031]    At layer  2 , ATM layer  2  maps to ATM layer  3  and TCP/IP layer  3 . Ethernet layer  2  maps to TCP/IP layer  3 . Serial line layer  2  maps to TCP/IP layer  3 . Computer interface layer  2  maps to computer interface layer  3 . Codecs layer  2  map to codecs layer  3 . At layer  3 , ATM, TCP/IP, computer interface, and codecs map to the Application Programming Interface (API) at layer  4 .  
         [0032]    The API layer  4  maps to the applications at layer  4 . The API includes conventional API software for each layer  3  protocol. The applications at layer  4  include the software executed by the processing core  230 .  
         [0033]    It should be appreciated from the above description that the multi-services communications device  200  can handle voice, video, and data using a variety of communications protocols. Although the multi-services communications device  200  can connect to a computer, it is not dependent on the computer for control input. The multi-services communications device  200  can handle video and telephone communications between a local telephone or video device and the communications network without any control input from the computer. The multi-services communications device  200  can also handle data communications, including TCP/IP communications, between the computer and the communications network.  
         [0034]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations of the above-described embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific examples and illustrations discussed above, but only by the following claims and their equivalents.