Patent ID: 6975624

Claim:
A network interworking device used in a communication system which has a first communication network provided with an internet protocol and adapted to be connected to a plurality of different users, a second communication network adapted to be connected to a plurality of different users, and a plurality of other network interworking devices each provided with the same functions as that of said network interworking device being connected between said first communication network and said second communication network for converting internet protocol packets communicated in said first communication network and information signals communicated in said second communication network with each other, said network interworking device comprising: a packet assembler means for assembling information signals of a plurality of calls received from the plurality of different users in said second communication network into a single internet protocol packet when said plurality of calls are to be transmitted to the same network interworking device; a coding means for encoding the information signals of the respective received from said second communication network, said coded information signals being transferred to said packet assembler means; a packet disassembler means for disassembling an internet protocol packet received from said first communication network into information signals of plurality of calls; and a decoding means for decoding the information signals of the respective calls disassembled by said packet disassembler means, said decoded information signals being transmitted to said second communication network, an acceptable period for packet transmission being determined according to the second communication network, said packet assembler means assembling sequential information signals of the plurality of calls received from the plurality of different users in said second communication network into a single internet protocol packet within a period between a first time when an information signal of one of said calls is generated and a second time when said acceptable period has lapsed from said first time, and wherein said network interworking device further comprises a plurality of coding means for encoding the information signals of the respective calls received from said second communication network in accordance with different coding systems, said coded information signals being transferred to said packet assembler means.