US 7626981 B2
Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur in multiple modes/protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided for multiple native mode/protocol voice and data transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub and data router or switch functions. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system. In particular, systems and methods for generating required telephony voltages directly on station cards, rather than on the basis of a large, central ringing or other power supply that supply such telephony voltages to each of the station cards, are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of station cards are provided in the telephony or communications system. One or more DC power supplies provide a source of DC voltage, such as 12 volts, to each of the station cards. The station cards are coupled to a processor of the system. The station cards may support a plurality of analog and/or digital telephony devices, such as telephones facsimile, voice mail, recording, speakerphone, conferencing or other type telephony devices.
1. A communication system for communicating via a communication network, the communication system providing voice and data communications and comprising:
at least a first packet bus in communication with one or more packet-based devices and adapted for transferring packetized data within the system;
at least one time division multiplex (TDM) bus in communication with one or more telephony devices, wherein the TDM bus selectively is in communication with the first packet bus and the communication network;
wherein the processor selectively controls voice and packet-based communications via the TDM bus and the first packet bus;
wherein the communication system includes one or more station cards for controlling communications with one or more of the telephony devices, wherein at least one of the station cards comprises:
an input for receiving an input voltage of a first voltage level from a power supply external to the at least one station card;
a voltage generation circuit on the at least one station card, wherein the voltage generation circuit generates from the input voltage one or more control voltages/signals of at least a second voltage level different from the first voltage level for generating signals for controlling communications with the one or more telephony devices; and
one or more interface circuits receiving the one or more control voltages/signals, wherein the one or more interface circuits generate signals for communicating with the one or more telephony devices.
2. The communication system of
3. The communication system of
a control circuit coupled to the plurality of interface circuits;
a bus interface coupled to the processor;
wherein the control signals are received from the processor through the bus interface, wherein the control circuit controls the interface circuits and controls operation of the plurality of telephony devices.
4. The communication system of
5. The communication system of
6. The communication system of
7. The communication system of
8. The communication system of
9. A method for generating voltages for controlling telephony devices via one or more station cards in a communication system, the communication system communicating via a communication network, the method comprising:
providing at least one station card in the communication system, wherein the at least one station card controls communications with one or more of the telephony devices;
receiving via an input on the at least one station card an input voltage of a first voltage level from a power supply external to the station card but internal to the communication system;
based on the received input voltage, generating on the at least one station card via a voltage generation circuit one or more control voltages/signals of at least a second voltage level different from the first voltage level for generating signals for controlling communications with the one or more telephony devices; and
receiving the one or more control voltages/signals with one or more interface circuits on the at least one station card, wherein the one or more interface circuits generate signals for communicating with the one or more telephony devices.
10. The method of
11. The method of
a control circuit coupled to the plurality of interface circuits;
a bus interface coupled to the processor;
wherein the control signals are received from the processor through the bus interface, wherein the control circuit controls the interface circuits and controls operation of the plurality of telephony devices.
12. The method of
13. The method of
14. The method of
15. The method of
16. The method of
This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/843,642, filed Apr. 25, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,072,330, which is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 09/055,072, filed Apr. 3, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,694, and application Ser. No. 09/055,036, filed Apr. 3, 1998, now abandoned.
The present invention relates to systems and methods for transmitting and receiving voice and data in multiple modes, and more particularly to systems and methods for multiple native mode voice and data transmissions and receptions with a communications system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a time division multiplexed (“TDM”) bus, a packet bus, and a control bus, and multi-protocol framing engines, preferably including subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail, file server, web server, communications server, telephony server, LAN hub and data router. The present invention in particular also relates to systems and methods for generating and supplying voltages to circuits on telephony station cards coupled to such a communications system for transmitting and receiving voice and data in multiple modes, and more particularly to systems and methods for generating such voltages with a power supply integrated on the station cards of such communications systems.
Businesses, particularly small to medium size offices, typically have a need for a variety of voice and data communications. For example, a typical office might have a dedicated fax machine, using a dedicated or shared telephone line, one or more telephone lines for voice communications, perhaps coupled to a central or distributed voice mail system(s), and one or more computers or computer networks, often coupled to telephone lines via one or more modems. Many offices now use the Internet in some form for business communications or research or the like, often by way of a modem or modem pool coupled to individual computers.
Typically, such business communication needs have been fulfilled with piecemeal technical solutions, typically from separate equipment and service vendors, and with separate hardware, software and design considerations.
Data system 2 typically is implemented with a plurality of computers (or workstations, etc.) 24 interconnected by way of packet network 26, which may be a standard Ethernet compliant network or other office network. Network 26 often is coupled to remote access server 32, which is connected to one or more analog trunks 40, and which may include one or more modems in a modem pool. Computers 24 may communicate with remote systems via the modem pool of remote access server 32 over analog lines 40 and WAN 42. Network 26 typically includes a connection to printer 22 and file server 20. In more sophisticated systems, network 26 may be coupled to switching hub 28 and router 30, which is coupled to WAN 42 over digital trunks 38. Data system 2 also may include a connection between one or more of computers 24 to modem 36, which in term is coupled to WAN 42 over dedicated analog trunk 40A.
Such a conventional system often is characterized by piecemeal equipment and network solutions, limited or non-existent coordination and management between voice system I and data system 2, non-optimized or non-integrated equipment, and inefficient use of costly network services (telephone lines, data lines, etc.), such as duplicate and often idle phone and data network lines, often provided from multiple equipment/service providers. In general, such conventional systems are neither constructed nor operated in a manner to provide efficient and integrated voice/data communications.
Moreover, PBXs and other telephony systems coupled to multiple telephones or similar telephony devices typically interface with such devices through what are often referred to as “station cards.” Such devices may be analog or, more recently, digital. Such cards typically must supply several DC and/or oscillating voltages to the telephony devices in order for the devices to operate properly.
Traditionally, such voltages have been supplied in a more or less centralized manner, with a central power supply. Examples of such conventional systems are illustrated in
The conventional system of
As with the embodiment of
The present invention is intended to address various disadvantages of such conventional communication systems. The present invention provides various systems and methods, perhaps more succinctly a platform, by which voice and data communications may occur in multiple modes and various protocols, and more particularly systems and methods for multiple native mode voice and data transmissions and receptions with a communications/computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus, a packet bus and a control bus, and multi-protocol framing engines, preferably including subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, email and/or file server, Internet server, LAN hub, data router, and telephony station cards including voltage generators. With the present invention, a platform and various processes are provided in which a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system.
In preferred embodiments, a computer or other processor includes a local area network controller, which provides routing and hubs and/or switches for one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to a multiple buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from the computer from TDM bus. The buffer/framer includes a plurality of framer/deframer engines, supporting, for example, ATM and HDLC framing/deframing, and raw buffering of voice data or the like. The buffer/framer is coupled to the TDM bus by way of a multiple port or multiport switch/multiplexer, which includes the capability to intelligently map data traffic between the buffer/framer and the TDM bus to various slots of the TDM frames. Preferably, a DSP pool is coupled to one or more the switch/multiplexer ports and/or the buffer/framer in a manner to provide various signal processing and telecommunications support, such as dial tone generation, DTMF detection and the like. The TDM bus is coupled to a various line/station cards, serving to interface the TDM bus with telephone, facsimiles and other telecommunication devices, and also with a various digital and/or analog WAN network services. The present invention provides a platform by which processing functions may be switched in to provide support for a wide range of network, vendor and application services.
With the present invention, a full PBX-type telecommunication system may be provided by way of the computer/processor and associated telephony hardware and software. Functions such as voice mail, automated attendant, call forwarding, hold, transfer, caller ID, conferencing and other telephony functions may be similarly provided. While supporting such telephony functions in their native mode primarily by way of the TDM bus, the computer/processor also supports concurrent packet data transmissions over the LAN subsystem and packet bus(es). As needed to efficiently support various voice/data communications in the particular office/work environment, the buffer/framer and switch/multiplexer provide a multi-protocol router functionality, enabling the TDM bus traffic and the packet bus traffic to be intelligently bridged and managed without degradation of each other, and without requiring translation or transcoding. With the present invention, the same WAN services may be intelligently managed and controlled for simultaneous voice, video and data traffic.
The computer/processor supports a variety of applications, such as remote configuration, management and back-up, bandwidth allocation and control, least cost routing, voice over Internet Protocol (or “voice over IP”), as well various telephony related applications. In certain preferred embodiments, audio/video data streams, including such as H.320 and H.323 data streams, also are intelligently managed and controlled. In certain preferred embodiments, management applications (such as the SNMP protocol) enable the system to be remotely monitored and configured via a web browser-type access.
In particular, the present invention is intended to provide systems and methods for generating required telephony voltages directly on the station cards, which are coupled to a multiple mode voice and data communications system, rather than on the basis of a large, central ringing or other power supply that supplies such telephony voltages to each of the station cards.
In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of station cards are provided in the telephony system. One or more DC power supplies provide a source of DC voltage, such as 12 volts, to each of the station cards. The station cards are coupled to a processor of the system. The station cards may support a plurality of analog and/or digital telephony devices, such as telephones facsimile, voice mail, recording, speakerphone, conferencing or other type telephony devices. Communications systems in accordance with the present invention preferably include various telephony/PBX, router and data switch functions.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide simultaneous voice, video and data communications with a single, integrated system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an intelligently controlled and managed processor bridge between one or more TDM buses and one or more packet buses.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated PBX, router and hub to support such simultaneous voice, video and data communications.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-protocol buffer/framer and switch/multiplexer in order to provide multi-protocol routing and intelligent time slot mapping to the TDM bus, preferably including DSP resources coupled to the buffer/framer.
A further object of the present invention is to provide systems and methods allowing a broad set of services and functions to co-exist in the same system, and leveraging shared resources while providing a high level interface and intelligence that allows for the shared resources to be dynamically allocated and re-allocated.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide station cards, and methods for supplying power to station cards, utilizing an integrated power supply.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide systems using such station cards.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such station cards that support analog and/or digital telephony devices.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communications system using such station cards that may be readily upgraded by adding such station cards.
Other objects, features and advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The above objects and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings in which:
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and/or substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods are provided to enable voice, data, video and other communications to occur in an efficient and integrated manner, intelligently allocating and utilizing available communications resources.
Communications system 50 provides an integrated system for controlling and managing communications such as in an office. Communications system 50 communicates over ports 26 to file server 20, printer 22 and one or more computers 24. Ports 26 typically includes a packet bus such as Ethernet, “fast” Ethernet, ATM or other LAN technology (in other embodiments, LAN technology, such as token ring, may be coupled to an appropriately configured port). Communications system 50 includes devices for controlling ports 26, including controllers such as what are known as a network interface controller (NIC), which may integrate a media access controller (MAC) for control of and interface to ports 26. Connected to ports 26 may be a variety of devices, such as one or more file servers 20, computers 24, printers 24 and other computing, peripheral or similar devices suitable for interconnection with ports 26. Other network devices, such as routers, switches, bridges and the like also may be connected to ports 26. In a one preferred embodiment, ports 26 is an Ethernet-type LAN to which is connected to a variety of devices as determined by the needs of the particular office/work environment. The present invention effective integration of the packet data LAN and router-type functions with the telephony and server functions, which enables unique operations and the initiation or completion of calls or transactions or the like, without having access to traditional, dedicated devices, peripherals and communications services.
Communications system 50 includes the functionality of what is known as a PBX (as will be described further). In preferred embodiments, communications system 50 is connected to a plurality of telecommunication devices, such as telephones 12, facsimile 44 and other suitable telecommunications devices and access and server functions (such as private voice mail, is recording devices, WAN service interface cards, etc.). What is important is that communications system 50 include interfaces for a plurality of telecommunications devices for the particular and complete office/work environment and infrastructure.
Communications system 50 is coupled to WAN voice/data services network(s) 58 through trunks 54. Voice/data services network(s) may include private line, local or long distance carrier networks, Internet, intranet and/or any other current or future WAN-type network services. Trunks 54 may consist of high, medium or low speed digital and/or analog lines, either public or private, and in certain preferred embodiments consist of high speed dedicated resources such as what are known as T-1, PRI (Primary Rate ISDN), ATM, VDSL, HDSL, ADSL, wireless, cascade, proprietary and/or twisted pair analog lines from a local telephone company. What is important is the communications system 50 is coupled to WAN services, trunks and the like in a manner that the user, service provider, administrator and/or algorithm has determined will provide adequate or required resources, on a cost-effective basis, for the particular office/work environment and operating conditions.
In contrast to
Host processor/system resources 70 is coupled to buffer/framer 72 via bus 84, which in preferred embodiments consists of a computer bus such as what are known as a PCI bus or ISA bus (in other embodiments, other suitable computer-type buses are utilized, which may include proprietary local buses). Buffer/framer 72 includes buffer 71 and preferably includes a plurality of multi-protocol framing/deframing engines, such as for what are known as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) or high-level data link control (HDLC) protocols, which may be synchronous or asynchronous. In other embodiments, other communication protocol framers/deframers are provided, as may be desired by the particular office/work environment. Buffer/framer 72 in certain preferred embodiments includes, for example, one or more ATM framers/deframers 73A and one or more, and preferably a plurality of, HDLC framers/deframers 73B. Although not expressly shown, buffer/framer 72 includes other controlling circuits (such as a slot mapping memory, multiplexers/demultiplexers, arbitration, control and other circuitry) such as, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,018 to DeJager, et al. for “MULTI-PROTOCOL PACKET FRAMING OVER AN ISOCHRONOUS NETWORK,” which is hereby incorporated by reference. As will be described in greater detail, buffer/framer 72 includes the capability to transfer raw or protocol-processed data, which may be mapped to particular slots of TDM bus 78 and made available on different ports. Buffer/framer 72 is controlled by processor/system resources 70 as diagrammatically indicated by control line(s) 92 (control line(s) 92 may be implemented as part of a bus structure, such as bus 84). In preferred embodiments, processor/system resources 70 includes redundant disk or other storage, redundant power supplies and data back-up to magnetic or other media in order to enhance fault tolerance of the system.
Processor/resources 70 also may be connected to DSP 76. DSP 76 preferably consists of a single digital signal processor or multi-digital signal processor resource pool, which serves to provide a variety of functions within communications system 50. In preferred embodiments, DSP 76 generates dial tones (such as for telephones 12), DTMF digit detection and decoding, echo cancellation, coding/decoding functions, voice conferencing, voice compression, voice recognition and the like. In other embodiments, DSP 76 performs data compression, transcoding, processing for voice communications using an Internet protocol (“IP”) or the like. In general, DSP 76 provides a set of processing and memory resources to support the various voice/data services controlled and managed by processor/resources 70. As illustrated by bus connection 84A, DSP 76 alternatively may be coupled directly to TDM bus 78.
Switch/multiplexer 74 communicates bidirectionally with buffer/framer 72 and preferably from DSP 76, as illustrated, over bus 86. Switch/multiplexer 74 also communicates with TDM bus 78, as illustrated, over bus 90. TDM bus 78 preferably is a time division multiplexed bus as is known in the art (such as, for example, what is known as an MVIP or multi-vendor integration protocol type bus), and provides in certain preferred embodiments 256 channels/slots per TDM frame (the present invention is not limited to a single TDM bus; in alternative embodiments, more than one TDM bus or other types of TDM buses are utilized). TDM bus 78 allows communication between devices on the bus by way of circuit switching techniques. This type of switching allows for simple and inexpensive communication of voice through, for example, what are known as pulse code modulation (“PCM”) techniques. Switch/multiplexer 74 preferably is implemented with one or more switching/serial time division multiplexing circuits, such as, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,921 to Swenson, et al. for “ISOCHRONOUS SERIAL TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXER,” which is hereby incorporated by reference. Switch/multiplexer 74, under control of processor/system resources 70, provides the capability for various voice/data signals to be controllably switched to desired slots of TDM bus 78.
Coupled to TDM bus 78 are line, station, trunk, or other interface cards 82. Cards 82 provide CODEC, line interface, off-hook detect and other functions as are known in the art to support various telecommunication devices (such as telephones 12 and facsimile 44) and WAN-type network services (such as voice/data services 58) that are communicating with communications system 50 via TDM bus 78. In preferred embodiments cards 82 provide points of termination for a plurality of telephones 12, one or more facsimiles 44, and various T-1, PRI, ATM, analog and/or other WAN-type network services as determined by the particular office/work environment. Cards 92, under control of processor/system resources 70, may include points of termination for emergency or backup telephone services and the like, such as in the event of a power failure or to provide analog services in the event a dedicated resource such as a T-1 is unavailable for some reason.
Communication system 50 also may include fax modem 75, which, under control of processor/system resources 70, may process incoming/outgoing facsimile transmissions. In the preferred embodiment, fax modem 75 is coupled to TDM bus 78 as illustrated, although in other embodiments fax modem 75 may be coupled in alternative arrangements, such as to switch/multiplexer 74 and/or DSP 76.
Communication system 50 also may include available card slots on TDM bus 78 for one or more module upgrade 77. Additional resources and/or functionality may be added to communication system 50 as needed by way of module or line card upgrade(s) 77, or by, for example, the addition of one more cards such as ATM controller 79B and DSP 79C. Through the use of such module upgrades or additional cards, etc., one or more minimal configurations of communication system 50 may be provided, with additional resources and/or functionality added by the insertion of additional cards to TDM bus 78. In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, software upgrades for processor/system resources 70, or for other resources in the communications system, also may be applied.
Processor/system resources 70 also is coupled to one or more packet buses, such as packet buses 80A and 80B, which may be through a bus such as LAN bus 81. Effectively, packet buses 80A and 80B provide multiple hubs or switches to intercommunicate between one or more packet networks, which in preferred embodiments are Ethernet networks. It should be noted that the bus configuration of
Coupled to packet buses 80A and/or 80B are a variety of computing-type devices, such as computers 24, printer 22, other computers, file servers, backup or storage resources, other networks and the like. Processor/system resources 70, in software and/or hardware, provides a LAN/network subsystem, which includes routing and other related functions to support data communications to and from packet buses 80A and/or 80B and TDM bus 78, etc., through several paths or methods.
In preferred embodiments, a more direct connection between packet bus 80A and/or 80B may be established by way of embedded router or bridge 83. Router/bridge 83 includes a CPU, TCP/IP controller, router, stack, Ethernet interface or other functionality as may be desired to couple LAN bus 81 to, for example, one or more HDLC controllers 79A. Through the use of router/bridge 83, communications between packet buses 80A and 80B may be accomplished while consuming minimal resources of processor/system resources 70.
At the server applications level, various software applications may be provided for operation in conjunction with the hardware illustrated, for example, in
Server encryption applications 23 may be provided in order to provide encryption or similar coding or processing of voice/data communications processed by communications system 50. VoIP gatekeeper 50 may be provided to service and control voice over Internet protocol (“VoIP”) communications. As more specifically described below, various types of VoIP communications may be effectively managed and controlled in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, such as, for example, a determination that acceptable conditions exist on the Internet for such communications. Directory 27 may be provided in order to make various types of directory information available to users of communications system 50. Directory information provided by directory 50 may include names, telephone extensions, address or other personal or work information regarding persons or departments, etc., serviced by communications system 50. Directory 27 also may include similar directory type information for persons or departments, etc. in a remote or other locations, such as may be accessed through voice/data services 58.
In general, with the present invention other applications 29 may be provided to support various types of communications in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.
Intelligent/dynamic B/W, service and resource management 31 is provided to effectively and efficiently control and allocate and de-allocate services and communications resources, such as in accordance with LCR, BQOS, B/W rules 21 (e.g., rules to enable lowest cost, highest quality or otherwise desirable management and control of network or other resources, etc.) or other applications 29 or the like. B/W management 31 also receives as inputs information indicating the total number and types of network resources (of voice/data services 58, for example) that are available to communications system 50, and their status and availability at any given point in time. B/W management 31 may receive as an input, or may generate internally, information indicating how much of a measured usage resource may be available at a given point in time (for example, “frame relay,” “private virtual channel” or other network services may be provided on the basis of a predetermined amount of data transmission per fixed time period for a fixed price, with additional charges for usage in excess of the predetermined amount, etc.). As more fully described below, based on the currently available and currently utilized services and resources, B/W management 31 may allocate and de-allocate such services and resources in a desired and/or cost efficient manner.
Services 37, which may be supported by database storage 35 (which may be provided as a part of processor/system resources 70), include data switching services, router services and PBX station services. In general, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, and utilizing resources such as described in connection with
For example, data switching services may be provided such as by LAN/NDIS/DDI drivers 39 (LAN, NDIS and DDI being exemplary) through hardware modules such as switched Ethernet 45 and hub 47. Routing services may be provided such as through WAN drivers (specific network services such as PRI and T-1 being exemplary) through hardware modules such as T-1 module(s) 49, ISDN module(s) 51, central office-plain old telephone service (CO-POTS) module(s) 53, V.35 module(s) (it should be understood that various hardware modules may be utilized in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, as desired to implement the various data switching, routing and other communications connections as may be determined by the needs of the particular office/work environment). PBX station services, such as automated attendant, reception, voice mail and the like, may be provided through station manager 43. Station manager 43 provides hardware for connection to various telecommunications devices, such as phones 12, facsimile 44, etc. In general, station manager 43 provides sufficient interface hardware in order to connect to the various devices that may be determined by the needs of the particular office/work environment).
Referring now to
Exemplary operations of such preferred embodiments will now be described.
In the event a user picks up one of telephones 12, an off-hook condition is detected by the appropriate card 82, which signals processor/system resources 70 of the off-condition. Processor/system resources 70 controls switch/multiplexer 74 to couple the appropriate card 82 to DSP 76, which generates a dial tone that is coupled to the appropriate telephone 12. The user hears the dial tone and may then proceed to place the desired call. DSP 76 detects the digits of the telephone number of the desired call and provides the detected digits to processor/system resources 70. For an internal call, processor/system resources 70 directs that the called internal telephone receive a ring signal from the appropriate card 82. Upon pick-up of the called internal telephone, the telephone connection between the internal phones is established by way of TDM bus 78 and the appropriate cards 82.
For an external call, processor/system resources 70 attempts to establish the desired connection through the appropriate cards 82 and available voice/data services 58. In attempting to establish such a voice communication connection, processor/system resources preferably follows the general flow illustrated in
Incoming calls are detected by the appropriate cards 82 and signaled to processor/system resources 70. Connections of voice incoming calls to telephones 12 are established under control of processor/system resources 70 over TDM bus 78.
Referring now to
Station card 100 includes power supply 150, which receives a supply voltage (such as 12 volts) from an external power supply in communications system 50. Station card 100 receives commands and couples signals to a processor in communications system 50 through bus interface 170. Control signals are passed from the processor to control block 168 through bus interface 170.
Power supply 150 provides the necessary voltages to interface blocks 152 over bus 164. Interface blocks 152 include the required interface logic and related circuitry required to couple to telephony devices such as telephones 160, as will be more fully described in connection with
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the present invention also may be applied to digital telephony devices. For digital telephony devices, interface blocks 152 are modified, as codec functions are no longer required, and power supply 150 supplies appropriate voltages for the digital telephony devices, perhaps through appropriate control or logic circuitry, in order to generate voltages and control signals to control the digital telephony devices.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, communications system 50 may include one or more station cards 100 for interfacing with analog telephony devices, and/or one or more station cards 100 for interfacing with digital telephony devices. In certain alternative embodiments, communication system 50 also may include one or more station cards 100 for interfacing with both analog and digital telephones (i.e., including circuits for interfacing with analog telephony devices and circuits for interfacing with digital telephony devices). In accordance with such embodiments, communications system 50 may be conveniently upgraded by insertion of additional station cards 100, for example, with the central power supply of the communications system providing a single DC voltage (or voltages) to the differing station cards.
As illustrated, communications system 180 preferably includes integrated PBX station 186 including, but not limited to, voice mail, automated attendant, conferencing and other functions, and also router 190, data switch 188, processor 184 (which serves to control the various components and subsystems of communications system 180, etc., as may be more fully appreciated from co-pending application Ser. No. 09/055,072, filed on Apr. 3, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,694. As illustrated in the referenced co-pending application, a variety of WAN and other network services/resources may be coupled to communications system 180, as may be desired for the particular office/work environment and infrastructure.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, having an integrated, on-board power supply on station cards conveys substantial conveniences, advantages, and benefits upon the designer/operator of communications systems such as have been described. The use of such stations cards is particularly useful and advantageous when applied to a highly integrated communications system, such as described earlier herein.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific preferred and other embodiments, it is evident that many substitutions, alternatives and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all of the alternatives and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it should be understood that, in accordance with the various alternative embodiments described herein, various systems, and uses and methods based on such systems, may be obtained. The various refinements and alternative and additional features also described may be combined to provide additional advantageous combinations and the like in accordance with the present invention. Also as will be understood by those skilled in the art based on the foregoing description, various aspects of the preferred embodiments may be used in various subcombinations to achieve at least certain of the benefits and attributes described herein, and such subcombinations also are within the scope of the present invention. All such refinements, enhancements and further uses of the present invention are within the scope of the present invention.