COMMUNICATIONS WEB FOR THE PSTN NETWORK.
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for interconnecting several apparatuses and more particularly to a system for wireless interconnection of telephone sets and computers.
Antecedents of the Invention. The demand for access to voice and data communications in the public telephone network ("PSTN") is growing exponentially. Not only is the subscriber base the one that expands logarithmically, but what is more significant, is that individual subscribers are beginning to require more than one connection and often multiple connections. In addition to cell phones, pagers and other mobile devices, home-based connectivity is a significant factor in the exponential growth of the PSTN. Subscribers have recently begun and in a significant volume, to require second and third connections as a matter of course, such as connectivity for the Global Information Infrastructure (called "Internet"), fax, data communications and lines for children. Although it is conventional for a residence to have standard telephone equipment in several rooms supported by one line and perhaps a computer supported by another, the days of the "standard telephone service" analog or standard or "POTS" is being overshadowed by the demand for connections with sufficient capacity, is being overshadowed by the demand for connections with sufficient capacity to support graphics, video, interactive applications and devices and the so-called "advance technology". In 1995, for example, the Regional Bell Operating Companies ("RBOC's") began transporting more data communications than voice communications. Therefore, not only the subscribers who use more lines, but the nature of the connection is changing as well. The figure of the change will only increase with the passage of time The growing demand of residential subscribers, and the ever-changing nature of these lines as the new standards are developed in order to accommodate new and different services, occurs in the face of a greater residential restriction: the wiring of the residence. Standards such as ADSL help minimize that problem by producing multiple channels on a single line or dividing the analog and digital channels to the client's demarcation point in a way that allows digital signals to be sent in the vicinity of the computer. That paradigm has compromised as inevitable, that subscribers require computers and other electronic devices connected throughout their residence. These devices not only look like computers or televisions in their nature, but can be any electronic device that one wants to access remotely. The format of the anticipated 128-bit Internet protocol address will be accommodated as estimated for all the world's foci. At present, however, most residences have the characteristic of having only twisted pairs of cables in their walls in their facilities. Rewiring additional lines throughout the house, either with today's twisted pair of wires, or perhaps a coaxial standard is a problem and is costly enough, which is a lack of large incentive which restricts demand of increased residential bandwidth. As time goes by and the rate of changes in technology increases, however, subscribers would find themselves needing to rewire each number of years in order to accommodate changing standards and increasing bandwidth. These factors create a need for connectivity in the residence between the PSTN client demarcation point and telephones, computers, fax machines and other devices which can be connected to the PSTN or characterized in an IP address. This connectivity must be sufficient, not only for today, but also to alleviate the need to rewire the residence in order to accommodate new changes, it must accommodate new devices, formats, protocols and standards, both analog and digital, and must be flexible and design Modulate in order to accommodate a wide range of needs and preferences among the subscriber base. As more peripherals enter the home, the interconnectivity of these peripherals becomes more important. However, interconnectivity has additional problems, such as bandwidth limitations. The problem of bandwidth is caused by the fact that telephone systems were designed and placed before computers were widely used. The telephone system used today was originally designed, only for voice use. By limiting the spectrum to only those frequencies relevant to human speech, the industry reduced the bandwidth of each channel to 3.1 kHz, thereby increasing the number of channels or potential simultaneous calls. Said limitation of the bandwidth has recently become very important, in the face of the demand for broader band communications that includes graphics, video, and high fidelity audio. In his paper for a Bell Labs seminar, "A Mathematical Theory of Communication", Claude Shannon acknowledged that the theoretical maximum rate of error-free data communications (for example, a channel of bandwidth defined with noise present) on a telephone line is approximately 35K bps, depending on the telephone link. Thus, sampling at rates greater than 8Khz is unnecessary, and this sampling rate has become an industry standard. Undoubtedly, the faster sampling of 8K, leads to little or no improvement compared to the bandwidth limitation of 3.1 kHz. The systems of the present invention, by virtue of their connection to the telecommunications network through the Network Control Unit, and from there the interconnection to a number of other devices through a digital radio frequency link, presents the need of an appropriate match in compensation to accommodate line losses in telecommunications networks and other errors. For example, if analog signals of the telecommunications network were coded and digitized in systems according to the present invention using MU Law coding standards, there is the possibility of quantification of compensation errors (which can be converted into analogues). to compensate the direct current in an analogous system) and the gain compensation due to the inappropriate coupling of the line card, generated a maximum and the maximum generated by the codee applicable in the Network Control Unit of the system. Although the compensation of the quantification can be relatively small, the compensation of the most significant gain. The compensation of the gain could perhaps be minimized, measuring and compensating its main component, line loss. The line loss can be compensated by at least partially compensated so that according to a direct method and by means of the current of a measurement circuit and applying a gain value, it is inversely proportional to the current. Some current modems employ these techniques, and older equipment occasionally uses a varistor series for these pues, although the profit compensation circuit system does not appear to be widely employed, if it is not employed outright, in cordless telephones. . The designers of recent 56K modems rely on filtering or leverage in the fact that the switched capacitor or post digital conversion reconstruction filters in a standard codec, operate in a highly predictable way. That is, although they introduce considerable interference into the 56K digital input signal, the interference is accurate and predictable. However, the routing of the signal through two serial cores as required in the present invention in any part of the radio frequency link would create not only a gain disparity, and quantization compensation, but also an additional step of quantization noise plus echo and therefore cause serious degradation and perhaps eventually a relapse to lower data rates.
Summary of the Invention. The systems according to the present invention characterize a Network Control Unit, or a Web Control Unit ("NCU"), which interfaces with any desired number of PSTN lines. Where the lines are analogous, the Network Interface on the NCU digitizes the signals and otherwise makes them compatible to send them to the Cross Connection Switch / Conference Bridge / Accessory Block ("CAB") module which can be programmed in the residence remotely to connect the signals coming from each line to any previously determined combination of telephony, computers and other electronic devices in the residence. The CAB is connected to the radio multiplexer engine which multiplexes the signals for bandwidth efficiency and other purposes, and sends them to an NCU radio transceiver to send them via the RF link, which can also be multiplexed if you want throughout the residence. At the other end of the RF link, the system characterizes the headsets and / or wireless access units or "wireless plugs". The headphones include a transceiver, analog / digital conversion circuits such as so-called "codec" and control circuit systems with a combination of eg microphone and hearing aid for voice communications and perhaps a pin for data communications. The wireless access unit contains circuit systems similar to the headset in analog environments, plus an additional circuit system for sending the signal to a standard interface such as a RJ-1 1 plug. Said wireless access units may be made available, in accordance with the present invention, to accommodate any physical or electrical interface standard, such as the wireless access units for the ISDN interfaces and any other desired digital services. Accordingly, PSTN lines may terminate at the residence in a Network Control Unit which may be physically small and harmless in appearance, perhaps mounted on a wall and, if desired, connected to the nearest electrical input or to a computer. personal or another interface if the user wishes to control other devices through interfaces in the Network Control Unit itself. The unit can characterize a tip antenna or other desired antenna. Throughout the residence, any device to be connected to the PSTN may contain its own wireless access unit, which may be a battery powered by a battery and connected to the NCU via the RF link. The present invention enables wireless, efficient, flexible and modular connectivity between any desired apparatus and the PSTN within the residence. The Network Control Unit by itself can be modular in design to accommodate various circuit boards for various changing and evolving standards and protocols. The new Wireless Access Units can be purchased for any particular device that a particular subscriber wants, and he or she can update the system with new circuit boards, and new Wireless Access Units and perhaps new hearing aids as time goes by, the new devices and the evolution of the services and the change of the standards.
In order to compensate for the loss of line, the disparity and other incompatibilities between the public telecommunications network on the one hand and the systems according to the present invention which transport signals to a number of devices by a digital link and therefore two conversion stages are required, the present invention employs an encoding process that differs from the standard American standard coding techniques of MU law. According to a paradigm, the new coding techniques according to the present invention can be considered as a superior implementation of a low pass construction filter using digital signal processing techniques. These techniques allow the signal to continue to be sampled at an 8K index with little or no distortion. The coding techniques according to the present invention employ 6 bits of amplitude, 3 bits of string and one sign bit, compared with the four bits of amplitude, 3 bits of string and one bit of sign characteristics of the coding of the law of MU. Sampling is performed at an index of 8K or greater. The resulting operation of 16 bits produces a subjective signal ~ 90dB to the proportion of the noise in the radio frequency link of the systems of the present invention. Such coding techniques and 10-bit key segments can be easily accommodated by the present processing capacity.
Another coding technique uses 16-bit and 16 kHz linear quantization or a higher sampling rate, twice or more than the conventional 8 kHz sampling rate. After this oversampling, the signal is decimated at a lower sampling rate before transmission by the wireless medium. This minimizes the amount of bits added in the air and preserves the wireless link margin and system operation by maximizing the amount of energy per bit. To reproduce the signal, the decimated signal can be converted back into an analog form, processed through a reconstruction filter and passed to a hybrid of four cables to two cables, and connected to the RJ-1 connector of the access plug. Wireless The decimated signal can also be interpolated again up to 16 kHz or higher in order to make the filtering of reconstruction simpler, more practical and more economical. An echo canceller can also be employed with any of the aforementioned coding techniques in order to minimize the echo up to about 0, and thereby improve the operation. As the hybrid circuit in the PSTN connection to the hybrid in the access plug is a four-wire wireless circuit, the echo canceller can be located at either end of the circuit. The echo canceller can be fixed with previously established coefficients that are calibrated to a certain line condition and adapters to automatically correct for variations in the conditions of the line. It is an object of the present invention to provide residential and commercial wireless connectivity between the PSTN and computers, headsets, and other devices which eliminates the need to rewire businesses and residences in order to accommodate new standards and services. A further object of the present invention is to provide RF-based connectivity between any number of PSTN lines and any number of electronic devices existing now and in the future in a modular and flexible manner. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible modular system which provides connectivity between the PSTN and any electronic devices that the subscriber wishes to connect via the RF link. Another object of the present invention is to provide such systems that accommodate line loss, lack of coupling and other incompatibilities with the public telecommunications network in a manner that does not require analog gain control techniques, synchronization to the system clock , but which produces an excellent signal to the proportions of noise and signal quality throughout the digital radio frequency link. A further object of the present invention is to provide such systems that implement a reconstruction filter with expanded quantization segments with expanded quantization objects in order to provide improved audi-fidelity performance within the systems and simultaneously accommodate incompatibilities with the network public telecommunications A further object of the present invention is to provide such systems which use coding characteristics that characterize expanded quantization segments in order to provide a signal quality that ensures compatibility with the multiplexing techniques according to which said signals are transported in the radio frequency links according to the present invention. Still a further object of the present invention is to provide new techniques for encoding a signal to be transported on a wireless link, in a manner that ensures superior sound quality at high data rates, while maintaining compatibility with the width of traditional band of 3.1 kHz and the standards of sampling rate of 8K. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated with respect to the rest of the document.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic view of a residence which characterizes a modality of a system according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic representation, mostly simplified of a time division multiplexer access structure ("TDMA") having eight slots that support four bidirectional channels according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3A is a high-level functional block diagram of a Network Control Unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3B is a schematic diagram at a lower level than Figure 3A of a Network Control Unit according to an embodiment of the present invention in which four encoders / decoders or "codec's" are used in connection with four linesAnalogous POTS. Figure 3C is a functional block diagram of a simple codee, which can accommodate the four lines, for example, illustrated in Figure 3B as an alternative design for the purely analogous POTS lines. Figure 4 is a functional block diagram of a headset embodiment according to the present invention. Figure 5 is a functional block diagram of a modality of a Wireless Access Unit according to the present invention. Figure 6 is a functional block diagram of a Network Control Unit which is adapted to accommodate the ISDN standard together or connected to other analog PSTN connections. Figure 7 is a functional block diagram of a Network Control Unit according to the present invention adapted to accommodate three analog connections and a digital PSTN connection. Figure 8 is a functional block diagram of a modality of a digital Wireless Access Unit according to the present invention. Figures 9A and 9B are functional block diagrams as a mode for the switching / processing circuit system contained in a modality of a Wireless Access or Headset Unit in accordance with the present invention. Figure 10 is a high-level functional block diagram of a transceiver circuitry which may be employed in the present invention if desired. Figure 1 1 A is a simplified flow diagram illustrating a configuration sequence of the Network Control Unit of Figure 3. Figure 1 1 B is a table illustrating the configurations of the network control unit of Figure 3. Figure 3, resulting from the configuration sequence shown in Figure 1 1 A. Figures 12A and 12B are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a communications Web according to the present invention and according to example 1 which will be explained below. Figures 13A and 13B are schematic diagrams showing the operation of another communications Web according to the present invention and according to example 2 that will be explained below.
Detailed Description of the Invention Figure 1 is a schematic plan of a hypothetical floor of a residence or business, which contains a communications Web according to the present invention. The floor plan shows a Network Control Unit or "NCU" 100, which terminates four central POTS office lines designated "CO1" to "CO4". A number of wireless access units or wireless pegs ("WAU's") from 201 to 203 can be found in the entire floor plan linked via the RF link to the NCU. Additionally, you can also find a number of headphones or conventional phones 300 - 304, either portable or connected to the WAU in the entire floor plan. Other electronic devices such as the fax 400 can be included; the fax 400 of Figure 2 is illustrated connected to a WAU 202. Any number of PSTN lines or connections may terminate in one or more NCUs for a particular location in accordance with the present invention. PSTN lines can be analog and digital, and can incorporate any present or future desired standard, format or analog or digital protocol. In a similar manner, the WAUs according to the present invention which may be linked by the RF to one or more NCUs for a joint location may be adapted to accommodate any telecommunication, electronic, consumer, or other standard, format or protocol. required, where they are analog or digital and can be manufactured and sold individually for said purpose to produce communication Webs according to the present invention of a modular nature with a mixture of components to suit any reasonable taste or preference. A WAU can connect, for example, a "telephone", such as a telephone instrument 300 of Figure 1, a conventional modem directly to a personal computer by means of the WAU ISDN, a fax machine by means of the WAU fax and any other desired electronic device. A number of WAUs and headphones may be employed in accordance with the present invention to accommodate them in any combination of electronic devices that the subscriber wishes to connect to the PSTN. Figure 1 is a simple hypothetical floor plan in order to provide a minimum of perspective in relation to the NCUs, atrial WAUs and other electronic devices used in the communication Webs of the present invention.
NETWORK CONTROL UNIT Figures 3A to 3C show, in a functional block diagram format, modalities and portions of Network Control Network ("NCU" ") modes according to the present invention. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the NCU 100 includes the interface circuitry for interfacing with the PSTN lines or connections from a switch or other PSTN component either analogue or digital. This circuit system, called "Network Interface" 650, as illustrated in Figure 3A, is connected to the switching circuit system (and if desired, bridges and accessories are made) as shown with the number 660 in Figure 3A. This explanation considers the signals in a "down" direction or a PSTN to NCU to WAU from which the corresponding signal flows in the opposite direction. The components of the Cross Connection Switch / Conference Bridge / Accessory Block ("CAB") from the Network Interface corresponding to the input lines in a predetermined and programmable manner, with additional functionality if desired, for the down circuit system for eventual RF transmission to the WAUs and headphones. The interruption and bridging components of the CAB are the portion of the Network Control Unit that allows the subscriber to either remotely or locally designate, through the NCU programming which of their telephone instruments, computers, Fax machines or other devices will be connected to several PSTN lines at particular times of the day and under particular conditions. The signals that are being commuted appropriately in the CAB as designated for the subscriber's apparatuses are then delivered to the NCU "Radio Multiplexer Engine" as illustrated in Figure 3A at number 670. The RME multiplexes the signals according to, for example, the access of the time division multiplexer or according to any desired format over a previously determined number of channels, for the bandwidth and the conservation of the RF frequency. The multiplexed signals are delivered to the radio transceiver 680 where the signals can be conditioned, multiplexed according to any desired format, and "modulated on an appropriate RF carrier or conveyors in a manner that can be programmed or otherwise desired for transmission to the WAUs 200, headphones 300 and other devices if desired.A NCU 690 controller, connects all the circuits in the NCU and can be programmed by the user interface in the NCU by means of the computer connected to the controller. other portions of the NCU or remotely over one of the 640 entry lines.
NETWORK INTERFACE In more detail, the Network Interface 650 of the NCU can be modular in design and contains the circuits that connect to the public telephone network to accommodate various media, including twisted pair, coaxial, fiber and wireless cables. several modalities including analog, digital or hybrid. A Network Interface can be modular and portions can be implemented for all lines in the middle of the specific integrated circuit system ("ASIC") to accommodate analog circuits, or the services they require among other interfaces, ISDN, T- 1, CATV / COAX, ATM, micro-ATM, AMPS, N-AMPS, TDMA digital cellular, CDMA digital cellular, analog or digital SMR (Nextel), PCS, LEO satellite, geosynchronous satellite, Internet protocol or any other form present or future wireless or wired local circuit or other PSTN service. As illustrated in Figure 3B, the Network Interface for a system according to the present invention which accommodates four POTS lines, could take the form of a rectangular distribution of the independent direct access distribution circuits (" DAA ") 690each having an insulating transformer and appropriate line protection circuit system as required, a hybrid of two to four cables 700, an encoder / decoder ("CODEC") 10. The network interface circuit system it is adapted accordingly by means of appropriate insulation, impedance coupling, line protection, medium conversion (from two to four cables), analog to digital / digital conversion to analog so that its output signals 720 are coupled to the CAB 660. (The functionality in the POTS versions of the direct access distribution circuits 690 comprises conventional components, and is implemented in a conventional manner). The codes according to the present invention in an additional functionality to their own, also compensate line losses, decoupling and other incompatibilities with the public telecommunications network, providing, a higher low pass filtering implementing in the digital processing techniques of the signal. Codes 710 encode the signals using a sampling rate of 8K or greater as in the logarithmic coding of the law of MU, but quantify using segments which correlate with the key words of extended length. According to one embodiment of the present invention said coding is conductive using a 10-bit word length instead of an 8-bit length used in the encoding of the MU law. Said encoding techniques are preferably implemented in a conventional 16-bit analog-to-digital converter, such as that used for digital audio applications, and performing decoding in said converters from digital to analogue. These may be integrated into the ASIC medium used by the network interfaces according to the present invention. The operation resulting from 16 bits produces a better signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 90 dB or better, in the radiofrequency link and allows multiplexing techniques according to the present invention to accommodate the coded signals. The quality of the resulting signal in the wireless components of the present invention is commensurate with the quality of the wireless signal. Although these techniques allow the transport of the data index of 56 K complete in a conventional bandwidth of 3.1 K. It is recognized that this operation degrades to the levels of conventional operation once the signals processed according to said decoding are routed to the Public telecommunications system through standard line card codees and MU law coding techniques if not due to line loss. In addition to the coding technique described above, the codes of the present invention can be encoded using an oversampling, designation or interpolation ("OSDI") technique. According to the OSDI technique, the 16-bit linear quantization and the sampling rate of 16 kHz or greater is initially employed in analog signals. After oversampling, the signal is decimated at the lower sampling rate, preferably 10 kHz before it is transmitted by the wireless medium. To produce the signal exactly at the other end (for example, Wireless Access Units), the decimated signal can be converted back to analog form and processed through a reconstruction filter. The reconstruction filter can be digital in cases where the reconstruction would take place before the conversion from digital to analog. If the construction filter is analogous, the construction will take place after the conversion from digital to analog. Alternatively, the reconstructed signal can be mixed with a digital portion of the reconstruction that occurs before the D / A conversion and the analog portion that occurs after the conversion GIVES. Then the signal is passed to a hybrid of 4 cables to 2 cables and connected to the RJ-1 connector of the wireless access plug. The decimated signal on the access plug can be interpolated again up to 16 kHz or a higher sampling rate to simplify the reconstruction filtering. An echo canceller can be used in conjunction with the M U-law coding or the OSDI techniques described above in order to minimize near-end echo and thus improve performance. As the hybrid circuit in the PSTN connection to the hybrid on the access plug is a four-wire wireless circuit, the echo canceller can be located at either end. The echo canceller can also be divided into portions of it located at either end. The echo canceller can be a fixed-type echo canceller with pre-adjustment coefficients that are calibrated to a given line condition. Alternatively, the echo canceller can be an adapter so that it is automatically corrected for variations in the conditions on the line. The correction can occur either from a training sequence preamble that precedes some transmission. The correction can occur alternatively based on the stored coefficients of a previous session. The echo canceller would then be adaptively selected to the new coefficients based on the real time data of the stream. In Figure 3, an alternative distribution of aNetwork interface adapted to accommodate four POTS lines. There, the conditioning circuit system which can include the hybrids 700 and other cross-paired components to a simple code 710, instead of the requirement that a codec be used for each of the 640 lines. The output of the Interface Network can be in a BUS 730, instead of individual outputs instead of individual outputs connected to the CAB 660, in order to connect the Network Interface 650 to the CAB 660 by means of the connection multiplexed by physical simplicity and logical implementation. For ISDN, the Network Interface can be the so-called "U-Interface" and associated with a four-level dibit circuit system. Other digital services require another interface specially adapted for the interface to a particular medium, protocol and format. The Network Interface 650 can be further adapted to include an additional RJ-1 1 connector that allows hard wiring to a single telephone line or existing wiring in the home. This would allow the NCU to handle existing phones as a resource, in addition to the Web headsets. The NCU may include, a drop relay that automatically switches, the extra hard RJ-1 cable connector 1 over one of the input lines in the event of a power failure or system failure within the NCU. For any local wireless circuit or so-called fixed wireless services that include satellites, the Network Interface may be a wireless modem which includes a radio receiver or transceivers and appropriate modulation / demodulation, coding and decoder circuitry. When the Network Interface is a wireless modem / radio transceiver, the CNU 100 operates as an answering or radio relay unit, communicating with the PSTN via a wireless protocol and with the WAU 200, headphones 300, and other components of the system according to the present invention by means of the same or perhaps different protocols. This aspect of the present invention can be counterintuitive: if the connection to the PSTN is wireless, one method is simply to connect directly to any location in the residence, instead of relying on the signals through the CN U 100. However, the systems according to the present invention, treat a problem that this method would present, because the radio transceivers that interface with the PSTN, generally must comply with elaborate air interface standards that have an accurate frequency control, a width of well-defined RF band, and higher transmission power (to accommodate a greater distance to a cellular tower or a PCS antenna), better receiver sensitivity, higher battery consumption, shorter battery life and a complexity and increased expense. A headset 300 or a WAU 200, in accordance with the present invention, however, is a rather simpler and less expensive apparatus which only needs to accommodate the less severe internal air interface standards of the present invention, but nevertheless, they retain functionality to provide the quality of wired connections and reliability for close indoor / outdoor service that is not expensive, compact, lightweight, flexible and manufactured and sold if desired designed for specific devices such as faxes or various digital standards, which each of the subscribers would like to use. The input connections in the Network Interface 650 could be pairs of twisted cables physically separated as in the case of the analog POTS lines where each line terminates from the PSTN by means of a pair of independent twisted cables; alternatively, each input circuit can be multiplexed into a single pair of twisted cables such as two digital circuits provided by a conventional basic index (2B + D) ISDN line. A micro-ATM fiber connection of 6 megabytes per second could provide digital voice service; the MPEG video and other services in a single optical fiber, which could be demultiplexed (multiplexed for the output or current information) in the Network Interface, and the input lines could be virtual. That is, additional lines could be allocated on a basis of, as necessary and charged accordingly. For example, a subscriber could have a connection to a line at 10:00 p.m. at 7:00 a.m., two lines from 7:00 a.m. at 9:00 a.m. and four lines from 9:00 a.m. at 7:00 pm. and you would be billed, corresponding to the partial use. As will be explained below, the CAB 660 can be reprogrammed to accommodate changes in PSTN connections in real time in order to distribute the bandwidth and services as desired between the WAUs 200, headphones 300 and others. end user interface devices.
CROSS CONNECTION SWITCH / BRIDGECONFERENCE / ACCESSORY BLOCK The cross-connection switch / conference bridge / accessory blocks ("CAB's") according to the present invention can be a n x m electronic switch and virtually, which is programmed to connect any input signal720 of the 650 Network Interface (either physical, virtual, multiplexed or wireless) to a number of output signals or interfaces, which correspond to the communications channels according to a topology or to combinations of the headsets, telephones, fax machines, computers or other apparatus that are serviced by the WAU 200 and / or headphones 300 of the present invention according to another topology. CAB 660, may but not necessarily, simply include the functionality necessary to bridge or conference these same circuits and / or remote devices, thus eliminating the need for additional processing of signals beyond the CAB 600. A CAB , may additionally contain a variety of decoders, generators, synthesizers and other circuits, as desired. The CAB 660 is preferably connected to the local Control Processor and / or an external computer and / or network or server, if desired. The external connection can be directly by BUS or synchronous connection or by any of the PSTN lines 640. In the systems according to the present invention having NCUs, CABs 660, 690 Control Processors and other multiple components can be connected and / or sent to the network between several NCUs and / or external or with the ability to control the server. The CAB illustrated in Figure 3A is under the control of a local processor 685 and a personal computer 687. For voice services, the CAB 660 can operate in a manner similar to a central switch, and a conference bridge routes each line to one or more wireless access units 200 and / or headphones 300, as programmed in the Control Processors 685 and / or PC 687. The multiple lines 640, headphones 300, telephones connected to the WAU 200 and other devices can be put into conference to form any number of swaps and conference combinations. A wireless headset can call another without using any 460 external line, simply by using the distributed time slots, codes or RF channels that comprise the two 300 headsets or phones connected to a WAU 200. A conference call from any of the Two or more headsets or telephone sets can occur in a similar way. Calls or conferences between multiple devices connected to multiple networks or shared NCUs can also occur in a similar way. The CAB 660 like the other components in the NCU, the WAU and the headphones can be implemented in analog circuits including relays, transistors, CMOS media and any other specific or non-specific analog components and circuits and / or integrated, but preferably the 720 signals arriving in the CAB 660 are digital so that the fully digital CAB 660 can be implemented. The CABs 660, according to the present invention, are adapted to route and direct data signals, such as, for example, when external data is used via the Internet or internal networks within the subscriber's location. In the case of voice, virtual circuits can be established for each call, which can remain in place for the duration of a call. In the case of data, the protocol of Conveyor Access From the Multiple ("CSMA"), or packet switching, among other formats or protocols, can be used in order to support a larger number of devices. A combination of virtual data circuits and CSMA can be used, if desired. In a similar manner, the CABs 660, according to the present invention, they are also adapted to accommodate voice and data traffic simultaneously, routing traffic and administration resources as desired. The Conference Bridge functionality in the CAB 660 is preferably implemented as a high-quality digital bridge, which maintains all connections at the appropriate and equal levels of audio. Although the functionality of Conference Bridge can be implemented in analog circuits, it is again implemented preferably in digital circuits, using logic and digital signal processing. Digital leveling and noise control can be used to maintain the quality of the voice circuit regardless of the number of parts that are connected together. The Conference Bridge can also be adapted to connect it in one or more external lines in an existing circuit, add 300 and / or WAUs 200 headphones to the circuit. The Accessory Block functionality, which may, but not necessarily, form a portion of the CABs 660 in accordance with the present invention, may contain features which add flexibility and additional levels of services to the communication Webs in accordance with this invention. The Accessory Block functionality may include, for example, the DTMF generator, the DTMF decoder, speech synthesizers, voice recognizers, voice compression expanders (ACDPM), digital speech interpolation (DSl), the identification decoder of the performer. the call, high or low speed telephone modem, fax modem with Group II capability, similar functions, real-time clock telephone answering devices and other functionality as desired. These functions are provided in conjunction with the Control Processor 685 and other portions of the CAB 660 to implement a capability, such as, auto-dispatch, remote program capability, remote program capability, voice command features, digital voice, storage and sending of voice and other advanced functionalities. Portions or all Accessory Block Functionality can be placed on a board, or remote to the NCU 100, as desired for particular implementations. The NCU switching and the functionality of building bridges and accessory blocks or any other software used by the NCU 100, may reside on the NCU board and, may but not necessarily, be remotely programmed and improved. It can also incorporate access or extracted programs or data objects and / or applications that are desired, including JAVA, active / X or other languages. The NCU 100 according to the present invention preferably includes a standard connector, such as RJ-1 1 which is connected by means of hard-wired cables to a single telephone line or connected, for example, to an existing indoor wiring. This connector allows the NCU 100 to handle the existing phone or cabling as part of its network, perhaps allowing them to answer any line that is ringing. Alternatively, POTS NCU 100 could have a drop relay, or FET circuit which can automatically switch existing wiring to this connector, in the case of a power failure or system failure. If the NCU 100 is equipped with backup batteries or other auxiliary power, it can continue to operate until, whether the utility power of the general public network is restored, or its batteries have run out, in which case it disconnects the line and it switches to a route and connects it to the emergency derivation routing to the external connector. The Control Processor 685 in accordance with the present invention commands the switching, RF routing, accessory functionality and other functionalities implemented in the CAB 660, the Radio Transceiver 680, and other circuits in the NCU 100, in accordance with the present invention. . The 685 Control Processor could be a small micro-controller set, although more processing power may be required to accommodate the ISDN and other NCUs 100 digital interfaces. Later, if desired, external PCS 687 servers can participate in the control functions. A very simple logarithm by means of which Control Processor 685 governs CAB 660 for the topology illustrated in Figure 1, is illustrated in Figures 1 1 A and 1 1 B, in which lines 640 are coordinated step by step in the CAB 660 to several WAU 200, headphones 300 and other devices. The control algorithms and the programming itself can occur locally, or by means of an interface 689, which can be implemented in the buttons or a keyboard, by the PC 687 or external connection, including the network or PSTN. Alternatively, the systems of the present invention are adapted to allow control of the NCU 100 including the Control Processor 685 and the CAB 660 from a remote service center so that a subscriber can call the service center in the event that the subscriber does not feel technically capable enough to perform the programming tasks of his NCU to accommodate several WAUs 200 and 300 headsets. The PC and other external leverage connectivity at a higher intelligence of the PC, the massive memory functionality additional for updates and similar databases and applications for the most convenient user interface, and in more elaborate application softwares, such as for example directory administration, worksheets and database administrators.
MULTIPLEXOR RADIO MOTOR The output signals CAB 750 are connected to a multiplexer radio multiplexer motor 670, according to the present invention, which may comprise a digital logic block thatIt implements any of the following functionalities: multiplexing / demultiplexing, preferably but not necessarily, TDMA / TDD (Time Division Multiplexer Access / Time Division Duplexer) error sending control and general error handling, dialog compression if they are required, code division multiplexer and demultiplexer, if any, and hopset generation if there are any, and other critical programming, synchronization and coding functions, which are very important for the operation of the systems according to the present invention. The MRI E 670 according to the present invention, generally but not necessarily, operates at speeds high enough to be inefficient the administrator of the Control Processor 685, although that is not necessarily the case. The RME signals 770 are connected in the systems of the present invention to the circuitry of the Wireless Radio Transceiver ("RT") 680, as illustrated in Figure 3A. The RT 680 can be a low cost multiplexed Radio Transceiver, or adjust the transceivers, which provide the appropriate modulation in the RF transporters as desired with or without, multiplexing or duplexing according to any of the following formats or other : TDMA / TDD, TDMA / FDD, CDMA / FDD, CDMA / TDD, FDMA / TDD, or FDMA / FDD, or any of these with the frequency hopping or frequency direct broadcast spectrum. The main function is to achieve the simultaneous transmission of multiple independent data streams to the WAU 200 and the 300 headphones.
Conveniently, the RT 680 circuit system does not need to conform to any error interface standard, since it communicates only with similar equipment and generally does not interface to the PSTN, or any other public network except through the transceivers of high quality separated and some are implemented in the network interface 650 or connected to it.
By means of a separate communications protocol, the RT 680 unit can communicate with other NCUs 100 that are within the same radio range. The NCUs 100 can share the hopset records of data interference, programming information and usage, all in order to avoid transmissions from one to the other. In a similar way, the components of each system, NCUs 100, WAUs 200, headphones 300 all transmit at the minimum possible power to provide reliable communications, using the perception of power handling and the response to the circuits. In this way, each system minimizes its "interference radius", the approximate circular area that connects to a specific system within which it has the capacity to generate interference in other systems (similar or not similar) that operate in the same band.
WIRELESS ACCESS UNITS The Wireless Access Units 200 in accordance with the present invention can be of two general types: (1) analogous, for a wireless telephone plug function such as one that can accommodate a conventional telephone or modem; or (2) digital, for the connection of a wireless or digital computer apparatus (such as DB-25, USB, Ethernet, ISDN-ST, PCMCIA or similar serial or parallel data communications connections). Figure 5 illustrates a form of an analogous WAU 200 according to the present invention. The analog WAU 200 may include a Radio 800 Transceiver, which links the WAU 200 via the RF connection to the NCU 100, a Radio Multiplexing Machine 802, an 804 Control Processor, and a circuit system that provides the basic circuit battery functions for the subscriber, overvoltage protection, call, supervision (off-circuit perception), codec, test and hybrid functionality (called borscht functionality). The analog WAU 200 of Figure 5 can be implemented in a small unit that looks like a wall transformer with one or more RJ-1 1 pins on the back or side and can, if desired, direct the power AC output and provide an analog telephone type connection to a computer modem, fax machine, telephone answering device, standard telephone or any other device that is connected with a standard RJ-1 1 plug. The unit may not need to be transparent to the caller's identification information, passing it through from the PSTN. In a similar way, the unit can pass through the coded call, or other designed signaling. Its power supply provides the power for standard telephones, which are energized by the line. Its high-voltage sound generation sounds the phones with the standard 90-volt rms, the 20-Hz call signals. Note that although it is considered that this unit is not necessarily "wired" to AC power wiring, and therefore is not entirely "wireless", the link between this unit and the 640 input lines connected to the NCU 100 is wireless. Therefore, it eliminates the subscriber's need to place telephones where telephone exits are located. The power of the battery, if used, provides even more flexibility in the location. A Digital Wireless Access Unit 200 of a type according to the present invention is illustrated in Figure 6. Said Wireless Access Unit 200 can provide wireless connection to computers, computer peripherals, ISDN-ST telephone sets and other digital devices. . Since the radio link used in the systems according to the present invention is digital, the digital circuitry in the Wireless Access Unit 200 mainly performs buffering, error control and conversion protocol functions. The external digital interface can take many forms, including DB-25, a standard serial port connector; USB, a new Universal Universal Serial BUS standard; a parallel connection-port (printer); Ethernet; 10-base-T; 100-base-T, Fast Ethernet or Gigabit; PCMCIA and others. The Digital Wireless Access Unit 200, like the Analog Wireless Access Unit 200, can be powered by the public power network or by battery, so that they can provide an independent convenience to the user.
WIRELESS CONTROL / MONITORING ACCESSORIES The systems according to the present invention can also perform many control and monitoring functions at subscriber locations for increased convenience and efficiency. For example, a wireless doorbell accessory or WAU 200 could emit a coded sound in response to a ringing sound signal. Then the subscriber could press an "intercom" soft key, placing the subscriber in full duplex communications with the front door visitor, and possibly presenting his image on the screen. Other wireless accessories can provide control over home lighting, garage door openers, and security monitoring. In a similar way, by means of an appropriate soft key, the headset or other interface device can control televisions, stereos, heating, air conditioning and household appliances. The monitoring of babies by means of the wireless audio monitor, and other functionalities of electronic devices are accommodated by the present invention, whether or not by means of a CE-BUS. In addition, individual headphones can be monitored and located using the programmed handset locator information inside the NCU controller. For example, the NCU controller can be programmed to monitor the extra RJ-1 1 pin for particular commands or patterns. Therefore, when a person enters a particular code into a headset (for example, "***") _ e | NCU sends a locator signal to no or more headphones, the headset, in turn, emits a signal that is You can hear in this way, the headphones can be easily located throughout the house. PROGRAMMING CONFIGURATION INFORMATION In addition to the programming of the system through the wireless access unit 200, the system can be remotely programmed from a computer through TCP / IP access to the Internet The user can use the Web browser to locate a Web page specified by the manufacturer of the system The web page is located on an Internet server and contains information specific to the manufacturer. , the user can enter the serial number of the system, preferably the serial number is located in the Network Control Unit 100 or in each of the wireless access units. 200. The web page may include a verification procedure, such as a CRC or PN algorithm to ensure that the user has entered a correct serial number. The Web page may also require the user to enter additional information about the system.
Once the user has passed the verification procedure, the browser displays a second Web page on the screen. On the second Web page, a questionnaire is provided regarding the configuration of the system. The questionnaire allows the user to specify the configuration information regarding the system. For example, the questionnaire allows the user to specify a plurality of names and telephone numbers to be stored in the memory of the Network Control Unit. Once the user has entered all the desired configuration items, the user can press the button END on the second Web page. The information specified on the website is then downloaded to the manufacturer. The server will return a session identifier to the user. Then, the user uses a handset to make a call to a cost-free number specified by the manufacturer. Then the user is notified to enter an ID session. Once the ID session is entered, the telephony provided by the manufacturer emits a series of tones that are recognized by the Network Control Unit 100. The Network Control Unit 100, then enters a configuration download mode. The telephony of the manufacturer, then downloads the data specified by the user.
OPERATION The four major component parts of the system of the present invention, as described above, are the Network Control Unit 100, the Wireless Access Units 200, the headset 300 and the Wireless Control / Monitoring Accessories 350. Although each of the components may contain an integrated microcontroller, which governs its basic functions, the NCU 100 alone, or acting with respect to the external controller capability is preferably a master controller and complete communication Web administration. All remote components are preferably simple, reliable and preferably of intelligence / limited functionality in order to reduce costs and increase the ability to incorporate them into modules, so that the operation of the system and functions are determined mainly by the NCU 100. The NCU 100 may contain software update capability and / or online firmware, as explained above. Through this capability, and the centralized intelligence architecture of the systems according to the present invention, the operation of the complete system can be increased, new features can be added, repaired software microphones, and hardware patched microphones, or downloading a new firmware into the new NCU 100. Most coding of the NCU computer programs are preferably kept in the instant memory that is reprogrammed. The firmware in remote units are preferably implemented in ROM memories, although not necessarily. The NCU 100 is the central part of the network topology systems, for the complete system, the NCU 100 selects the RF channels, jumps the sequences if any, and the code broadcasts if any; it handles the identification cords of the different remote devices, and performs the other functions related to the administration of the network, the remote unit registration and authentication, and the administration of the communications protocol. The NCU 100 also controls, the switching and interconnection of the CAB 660, and operates all the features of the Accessory Block of the CAB 660. The following examples describe the operation of two modes of the communication Webs according to the present invention.
EXAMPLE 1 In Figure 12 there is illustrated a system according to the present invention with four input POTS lines, an NCU 100 in the foundations or attic, a wireless headset, and three Wireless Access Units 200 which correspond to a telephone, a computer and a fax machine. The system can be programmed in the following way: the POTS 1 line is programmed in the CAB 660 to sound through and connect the LCD 300 headset. The POTS 2 line sounds through and connects with the Wireless Access Unit number 1 which is connected to a standard telephone by means of an RJ-1 socket 1. The POTS 3 line is connected to a Wireless Access Unit number 2 which, in turn, is adapted to accommodate a fax machine. The POTS 4 line is connected to a Wireless Access Unit number 3 which is connected through a RS-232 interface to a personal computer. The signals from the POTS lines 1 through 4 are connected to the Radio Multiplexing Engine 670, multiplexed as in a TDMA format and modulated in an RF carrier in an RT, or digital radio modem 680 for transmission. The headset 300 receives the signal from the NCU 100, and demodulates, demultiplexes and processes the information intended for the headset 300. That information is contained in a signal provided by the interface circuitry and the encoder / decoder 650 for delivery to the human interface. Signals are also provided to an operator and LCD screen. In an upward direction, the signals coming from the keyboard and the microphone are processed, multiplexed, modulated and sent to the NCU 100 which finally demodulates, demultiplexes and processes the signals to send them to the POTS 1 line. The Wireless Access Units 1 to 3 generally operate in a similar way with regard to theRF and the multiplexing circuit system. However, the Wireless Access Unit number 1 contains the interface circuitry adapted to accommodate a standard telephone, including for example, a system of circuits encoder / decoder, line interface, battery, supervision, and circuit system generator of the sound, which makes an interface with an RF-1 1 socket. The Wireless Access Unit number 2 interfaces with the circuitry intended for the mobile machine that may be similar or identical to the Wireless Access Unit number 1. The Wireless Access Unit number 3 is configured with an interface circuitry to accommodate an RS-232 port instead of an analog RF-1 1 socket. Accordingly, an error correction circuitry, asynchronous universal receiver / transmitter and manual activation are included in relation to the RS-232 serial port standards. If the subscriber wishes to delete the POTS 4 line, for example, or only subscribe to a portion during a part of the day, the POTS 3 line could be reprogrammed in the CAB 660 to accommodate the Wireless Access Unit number 3 for communications. by computer, while the POTS 2 line is configured to sound through the Wireless Access Units 1 and 2 for the telephone and the fax machine. Any other combination may be used, as desired, as the user desires new services or different services, or adds devices to the communications network with whoever attends Wireless Access Units.
EXAMPLE 2 In Figure 13 another system according to the present invention is illustrated, with two inlet POTS line, and one ISDN line. The POTS line 1 is programmed in the CAB 660 of the Network Control Unit 100 to sound through and connect to the LCD 300 handset. The POTS 2 line is programmed to sound through and connect to the Wireless Access Units number 1 and 2, which in turn are connected to the standard telephone and a fax machine, respectively. The ISDN line is programmed to connect to a Wireless Access Unit number 3 and, therefore, to a computer through the serial port. Again, the lines can be reprogrammed to connect them to the different Headset 300 and Wireless Access Unit 200 as necessary, and as the user desires new or additional services or add other devices. With the existing apparatuses illustrated in Figure 13, for example, the user could program the CAB 660 to connect the POTS line 1 to the headset 300 and the Wireless Access Units 1 and 2 in order to eliminate the second POTS line. In a similar way, line 1 could be designated to a voice line for connection to the headset 300 and to the Wireless Access Unit number 1. Line 1 or Line 2 could also be wired into the Network Interface 650 or otherwise, to connect directly through the existing cabling, as illustrated in Figure 13. The foregoing describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention . Various modifications, adaptations and alternative modalities can be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The present invention is further defined by the following claims.