MXPA00007549A - Telecommunication conferencing system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A telecommunication conferencing system and method are described. Three or more telephone sets connected to one of the networks (12, 14) can concurrently participate in a conference call. Each telephone set engaged in the conference call receives a list of participants in the call and an identifier associated with that call. Each telephone set generates voice data packets that include the identifier and forwards the generated packets to the network. In one embodiment, the telephone set generates a unicast packet for each other telephone set engaged in the conference call. In another embodiment, the packets generated by the telephone set are multi-cast packets that include the identifier associated with the conference call. Each telephone set locally produces a combination of the packets received and outputs audio signals corresponding to the voice data of the combination.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONFERENCE IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates, in general, to an apparatus and method for integrating voice and data into a single telecommunications network. More specifically, the invention relates to a telecommunications apparatus and method for sending voice and data packets to the network, in communication paths having separate collision domains.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many modern companies use two separate telecommunications networks, for voice and data. The costs associated with the installation and maintenance of two networks have led some companies to look for ways to integrate voice and data into an infrastructure of a single telecommunications network. As a result, the telecommunications industry has produced systems that integrate phones and computers in the same network. In those systems, telephones and computers share the same cabling infrastructure to transmit computer data and voice data.

Advances in technology, however, continuously increase the data rate capacity of networks. The Ethernet network, which is a prevalent type of local area network (LAN), is an example. Devices (or nodes) connected to the Ethernet network communicate with each other using packets that have a structured format. The packages include a destination address, a source address and the data. Initially, the 10 Mbps Ethernet network was the basis for the IEEE 802.3 standard, but since then Ethernet has evolved to support data transfer speeds in the 100 and 1,000 Mbps network. Although current implementations of integrated telecommunications systems can adequately support data speeds in the network, in the order of 10 Mbps, these systems can not adequately provide functionality equivalent to speeds in the network, 100 Mbps and more. This is due, in part, to the use of connection ports by current implementations of integrated telecommunication systems, to send Ethernet packets over the LAN. A connection port is a network device that deposits Ethernet packets, received in a communication path, in another communication path. Many communication routes can be found in a connection port. Because the connection port does not provide separate collision domains, the devices using this communication route compete with each other for the use of the connection port. A collision domain is a segment of the LAN where the collision occurs when either of two devices attempt to transmit packets simultaneously in that segment. When a packet collision occurs in a segment, the devices that send the packets are alerted to the collision and "return", that is, the sending devices wait a predetermined period of time before attempting to end the transmission of the packets in that segment. segment. The IEEE 802.3 standard specifies a return algorithm in which each sending device must function according to the standard when it is involved in a packet collision. However, a problem is that at high data transfer rates (for example, data transfer rates of 100 Mbps and above), a sending device may incorrectly consider that the transmission of a packet has been successful even if the packet finds subsequently a collision after spreading through the network. Typically, at lower data transfer rates (for example, 10 Mbps), this collision causes the sending device to return in future attempts to transmit the packet. However, high data transfer rates allow the sending device to transmit the packet before it occurs or the collision is detected. In addition, the sending device may even have continued to transmit other packets in those segments of the network. At high data transfer rates, the delay in propagation incurred in the network can prevent early detection of collisions and render the operation of the integrated telecommunications system impractical.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, the invention features a telephone conference system comprising at least three telecommunications devices connected to a network and occupied in a concurrent telephone communication. Each telecommunications device includes an Input / Output device (1/0) in electrical communication with the network and an input device for producing audio signals and a packet controller in communication with the I / O device and with the device. entry. The packet controller (a) generates packets from the audio signals received by the input device, (b) sends the generated packets to the I / O device for transmission to the network and (c) combines the packets received by the the I / O device of the network, to produce audio signals from it. Each telecommunications device may combine packets received from other telecommunications devices known to that telecommunications device to be coupled in the concurrent telephone communication. In other embodiments, the packets that are combined may be packets received from at least one 1/0 network generated locally by the telecommunications device, also, a portion of each packet may be selected for the combination. In one embodiment, the packets generated from the audio signals received by the input device may be packets of a single class. The packet driver generates a packet of a single class, for each of the other telecommunications devices occupied in the concurrent telephone communication. In another embodiment, the packages generated can be packages of multiple classes. In another aspect, the invention features a telephone conference system comprising at least three telecommunications devices connected to a network and occupied in a concurrent telephone communication. Each of these telecommunications devices receives an identifier that is associated with the concurrent telephone communication. Each telecommunication device includes an I / O device in electrical communication with the network, an input device for producing audio signals and a packet controller in communication with the 1/0 device and with the input device. The packet controller generates packets of multiple classes, from the audio signals received from the input device and sends the packets of multiple classes generated to the 1/0 device for transmission in the network. Each package of multiple classes generated includes the identifier associated with the concurrent telephone communication. Each telecommunication device can combine packages of multiple classes obtained from different sources. The multi-class packages, which are combined, can be those packets received from one or more networks and / or generated locally by the telecommunications device. Also, portions of each multiple pack can be selected for the combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is emphasized with particularity in the appended claims. The foregoing advantages as well as further advantages of the invention, can be better understood by referring to the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagram of a modality1 of two separate networks connected by a system of sending packages in which the invention is carried out; Figure 2 is a diagram of a mode of the packet delivery system, of Figure 1, coupled between a computer system and an Ethernet network; Figure 3 is a diagram of one embodiment of the packet delivery system of Figure 2, including a packet driver; Figure 4 is a diagram of another mode 'of the packet delivery system of Figure 2, which includes a packet switching device; Figure 5 is a diagram of one mode of the packet controller of Figure 3; and Figure 6 is a flow chart representation of a modality of a process by which packages are generated and placed on the waiting list within the package delivery system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Figure 1 shows a packet sending system 10 of the invention, connected between a first network 12 and a second network 14 by electrical communication routes 16 and 18, respectively. Each of the networks 12, 14 may have any of a variety of communication topologies, for example, a local area network (LAN) or an extended area network (WAN). In one embodiment, the packet sending system 10 is the only electrical connection between the network 12 and the network 14. In Figure 1, each electrical communication path 16, 18 is a network segment that is part of a network domain. different collision. More specifically, the collision domain including the network 12 and the communication path 16 is separate from the collision domain that includes the network 14 and the communication path 18. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the system for sending packets 10 maintains the separation of the two collision domains. The packet sending system 10 includes Input / Output (I / O) devices 15 for transmitting signals to a local device 17 and receiving signals therefrom. In one embodiment, the I / O devices include a microphone, a numeric keypad and a telephone. Other I / O devices are possible (for example, hearing aids). The 1/0 15 devices also include a liquid crystal display (LCD), electroluminescent diodes (LED), microphones and the telephone. Other types of I / O device can be used to carry out the invention. The local device 17 can be any local device capable of using the I / O devices 15 to receive signals from the packet sending system 10 or to transmit signals to it (for example, a computer or a human operator).

The packet sending system 10 may also include a first encoder-decoder (not shown) coupled to the microphone and the speakers and a second encoder-decoder (not shown) coupled to the handset to perform the conversions, analog to digital and digital to analog, of the audio signals. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the packet sending system 10 uses and / or sends packets received from one of the networks to another of the networks. More specifically, the packet sending system 10 uses and / or sends packets received from the network 12 to the network 14 and uses and / or sends packets received from the network 14 to the network 12. For example, some received packets can be addressed specifically to the packet sending system 10 (for example, the destination address in those packets is the address of the system 10). In this case, the packet sending system 10 uses but does not send these packets to one of the networks 12, 14. In another mode, the packet sending system 10 uses and sends the packets. Other types of received packets (e.g., broadcast packets), may be of interest to the packet delivery system 10 and used by it. The packets can also originate in the packet sending system 10, such as when a user makes a telephone call. To make a phone call, the user presses several keys on the numeric keypad and speaks into the microphone. The packet sending system 10 generates packets of the signals produced by the numeric keypad and the microphone and sends the generated packets to one or both networks 12, 14. The content of those packets depends on the source of the signals. For audio signals (ie voice), the generated packets include voice data. For digital signals produced by the numeric keypad, the generated packages include control data. The packet sending system 10 may also initiate the generation of packets (e.g., issuing an alarm or other types of status packets). As further described below, the packet delivery system 10 may add a priority level to the packets, where the priority level depends on the type of data included in those packages. In general, there are at least two priority levels. In a detailed mode, a packet has one of three priority levels: high, medium and no priority (that is, the packet is not given priority). In one embodiment, the priority level affects the order in which the packet sending system 10 places the associated packets for transmission to one of the networks 12, 14 in the waiting list, in the memory. In another mode, the priority it determines the order in which the packets are removed from the memory when they are sent to one of the networks 12, 14. The packet sending system 10 can detect when the networks 12, 14 are inadvertently connected to each other, through a different route than through the packet sending system 10. In one embodiment, the packet sending system 10 periodically transmits a packet through one of the communication routes 16, 18 and determines whether the packet returns to the sending system of packets 10 through the other communication route. In another embodiment, the packet sending system can determine which identical packets have arrived from both communication paths 16, 18 at almost the same time. The packet sending system 10 may display a warning of caution on the LCD and disable communication through one of the two communication paths 16, 18 until the inadvertent connection is disconnected. However, it should be understood that the principles of the invention can be realized even if the networks 12, 14 are inadvertently connected. Figure 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the packet delivery system 10 as a telecommunications device 10 linking two Ethernet networks 12 and 14. Examples of telecommunication devices include a telephone and a telephone line interface module device (FIG. TLIM). For exemplary purposes, the telecommunication device throughout the following description is a telephone (hereinafter, telephone 10). The first network 12 is an Ethernet network that includes a file server 20, and the second network 14 is a computer system 14. The computer system 14 is connected to a telephone receptacle 10. In this way, an infrastructure of one single network supports both computers and phones. Although only one telephone is shown, it should be understood that similarly one can connect multiple telephones to the Ethernet network 12, each of which can be coupled to computer systems. The computer system 14 can access the file server 20 through the packet sending operation provided by the telephone 10. To request access to the server 20, the computer system 14 transmits Ethernet packets that include the destination address from the server 20 to the telephone 10, through the communication path 18. Upon receiving the packets, the telephone 10 determines that the packets are not directed to the telephone 10, and places the packets for transmission to the network on the waiting list 12 through the communication route 16. Concurrently with this request and by the computer system 14, a user of the telephone 10 can be found holding a telephone conversation with the user of another telephone (not shown) connected to the network 12. The audio signals enter the telephone 10 through one of the 1/0 devices 15 (for example, the microphone). From these audio signals, the telephone 10 produces packets that include voice data. Because the voice data is time sensitive (ie, as time goes by, the usefulness of the voice data decreases significantly), the telephone 10 may give higher priority to packets that include voice data, which the packages that include control data, such as the server request made by the computer system 14. Consequently, the telephone 10 can exclusively dispose of the transmission of the packets representing the request of the server and put on the waiting list, in the first place, the voice data packets for its transmission. While the telephone 10 prepares to transmit the voice data packets to the network 12, voice data packets generated by another telephone coupled in the conversation can be received by the telephone 10 through a communication route 16. Destination addresses in these voice data packets may indicate that the phone is the target recipient. In this case, the telephone 10 produces audio signals of the voice data in the packets and outputs the audio signals to one of the I / O devices 15 (for example, the microphone). As a result, the user of the telephone 10 listens to the audio signals generated by the other user. The telephone 10 can then discard the received voice data packets or send the packets to the computer system 14. The user of the telephone 10 can enter a "conference call" (i.e., a conversation with users of two or more telephones). different connected to the network 12). From the audio signals produced by the user, the telephone 10 generates packets that include voice data packets. The telephone 10 then transmits the generated packets to the network 12. In one mode, each telephone involved in the conference call receives a list of all the participants at the beginning of the conference call. This list of participants can be generated before the start of the conference call and can change as participants join or withdraw. The telephone 10 generates a packet of a single class, for each of the other telephones that are in the list of participants. For example, when the telephone 10 enters a conference call with two other participants, the telephone 10 generates two unique class packages, which have the same voice data packets and the telephone 10 as the source address. The destination address in one of the packages of a single class, is the address of one of the other two telephones, and the destination address in the second packet of a single class, is the other of the other two telephones. In another embodiment, at the beginning of the conference call, each conference call, each telephone receives an identifier associated with the conference call. This identifier can be generated before the conference call starts and can change during the conference call, the telephone 10 generates packets of multiple classes including the identifier associated with the conference call. In each multi-class package, the telephone 10 is the source address and the identifier may be the destination address. Telephone 10 uses only those packets from the phones known to be making the conference call. For packets of a single class, the source address of the received packets can be compared against the list of participants. For multi-class packets, the identifier can indicate if the packet came from a participant in the conference call. When the telephone 10 receives a packet, the telephone 10 determines that the packet came from a participant who is on the conference call, produces audio signals corresponding to the voice data packets in the packet, and outputs the audio signals to the handset (or speaker). When multiple packets from different sources arrive at the telephone, that telephone combines the received packets and emits audio signals corresponding to the voice data of the combination. Telephone 10 can combine packets received from other telephones, with packets generated by telephone 10 from locally received audio signals. To produce the combination, the telephone 10 can combine the voice data of the received packets or select them for processing (i.e., to produce audio signals from the voice data packets) one or more of the packets, according to predetermined criteria. One of the criteria may be to process the package with the voice data that have the highest volume (that is, the highest). The telephone 10 can discard or send unused voice data packets. Figure 3 shows, in more detail, an exemplary mode of the telephone 10. The telephone 10 includes a packet controller 24, connected to an input / output port 26 (1/0), access control devices in two media ( MAC) 28 and 32, the memory 36 and the control circuitry 1/0 50. A configuration 62 encloses those components 24, 26, 28, 32 and 50 which, in one embodiment of the invention, are placed in an array of devices. integrated circuits (ASIC). It will be appreciated that other ASIC designs are possible such as, for example, one in which the memory 36 is included in the ASIC.

The port 1/0 26 is in electrical communication with the 1/0 15 devices (i.e., the microphone, hearing aid, or handset), to receive audio signals from a user of the telephone 10 and to transmit audio signals to devices 1/0 15 (for example, the speaker or the handset), in such a way that those signals are audible to the user. The I / O control circuitry 50 is connected to the 1/0 15 devices (e.g., the numeric keypad, the LCD and the LED), to receive input signals from the numeric keypad and to transmit control signals to the LCD and LED. The packet controller 24 is in electrical communication with port 1/0 26 on the signal line 52 and with the control circuit set 1/0 50 on the signal line 53. The packet controller 24 is in electrical communication with the memory 36 through the signal lines 35, with the MAC device 28 through the signal lines 58, and with the MAC device 32 through the signal lines 56, to control the transfer of the packets between the memory 36 and the MAC devices 28 and 32. The packet controller 24 includes a timer 63. In the mode, the MAC 28, 32 devices are the 10/100 Ethernet ports capable of operating at a data transfer rate, in the network, 100 Mbps.

The MAC devices 28, 32 are the physical interfaces for receiving and transmitting packets to Ethernet networks 12, 14. Each MAC device 28, 32 provides a separate collision domain, for packets that are being transmitted on the respective communication paths 16, 18. The first collision domain is the segment of the network that includes the MAC 28 device in electrical communication with the network 12 through the communication path 16. The second collision domain includes the MAC device 32 in electrical communication with the computer system 14 through the communication path 18. As a result of the separate collision domains , the MAC devices 28, 32 operate in such a way that both can concurrently transmit packets and / or concurrently receive packets, or one of the MAC devices can receive packets while the other transmits packets, without collisions occurring between the networks. Each MAC device 28, 32 includes a temporary memory 30, 34 for storing the packets prepared for transmission to the network 12 or the packets received from the network 12 through the communication paths 16, 18. The temporary memory 30, 34 it includes a temporary reception device 29, 34 and a temporary transmission device 31, 35. In one embodiment, the temporary memory 30, 34 is sized to store 8 or 16 bytes of data. The temporary memory 30, 34 may be internal or external to the MAC devices 28, 32. In one embodiment, each MAC device 28, 32 includes a temporary controller to manipulate packet transfers to and from the temporary memory. Other modes combine the controllers in a single component or incorporate the temporary controller within the packet controller 24. The memory 36 can be implemented using dynamic, synchronous random access memory (SDRAM). Other types of memory devices (for example SRAM) can be used. The organization of memory 36 provides memory sections 38, 44 separate dedicated for each of the MAC devices 28, 30. The separate sections 38, 44 function to maintain the separate collision domains, provided by the MAC devices 28, 30. The memory section 38 supports the MAC device 28 to through the signal lines 58 and the memory section 44 supports the MAC device 32 through the signal lines 60. The memory sections 38, 44 are each divided into a reception region 40, 46 and a region of memory. transmission 42, 48. Each receiving region 40, 46 is divided into a specific block 41, 49 for storing packets addressed to telephone 10 and a general block 43, 51 for storing packets directed to a device other than telephone 10. Each region of transmission 42, 48 is divided into a priority block 45, 55 for packets having priority and a general block 47, 57 for packets that do not have priority. Other ways of using the memory 36 to implement the priority are also contemplated. For example, the memory 36 may be organized as a temporary memory to store packets when the packets arrive at the telephone. Instead of evaluating each packet when the packet arrives, to determine the block of memory in which that packet is to be stored, each packet can be stored directly in memory 36 upon arrival and its priority can be subsequently examined when a packet is selected. package to send it to one of the I / O devices. Each packet received by a MAC device from the network 12 includes the information necessary to determine the location in the memory 36 for storing the packet. The package categories include "specific telephone", "general telephone" or "other general". The telephone 10 uses (ie, performs an action prescribed by the information found in the packet) specific telephone packs and general telephone packs. Examples of actions include converting packets with voice data into audio signals, and outputting the audio signals to a local 1/0 17 device, displaying a message on the LCD, resetting error markers, setting the current time on a clock internal phone 10, and other preparation functions. The telephone 10 sends general telephone packets, but not specific telephone packets, to the computer system 14. An example of general telephone packages are those packets produced during a conference call. Both categories of specific phone and general telephone packets are stored within the specific block 41, 49 of the receiving region 40, 46. The packets that are other general ones are stored in the general block 43, 51 and are subsequently sent to the general block 43, 51. computer system 14. Phone 10 does not use those packages. Figure 4 shows another mode 10 'of the telephone 10 in Figure 3. The telephone 10' includes a packet driver 24 ', connected to an input / output port (1/0) 26 J a MAC interface 23, the memory 36 'and a set of control circuits I / O 50 A The interface MAC 23 is in electrical communication with a packet switching device 21 for sending packets between the network 12 and the computer system 14. In another embodiment, the interface MAC 23 can be eliminated to allow direct connection of the packet controller 24 'with the switching device 21. The above descriptions for the packet controller 24, the port 1/0 26, the memory 36, the control circuitry 1/0 50 in Figure 3 are the same as the corresponding components found in Figure 4. The MAC interface 23 provides an interface that controls the communication between the network 12 and the computer system 14 with the telephone 10 '. . The switching device 21 provides a function achieved by the two MAC devices 28, 32 of Figure 3, which is to maintain separate collision domains for the network 12 and the computer system 14. The switching device 21 can be implemented using an NP313, a 3 Port Integrated Fast Ethernet Circuit, developed by NeoParadigm Labs, Inc. (NPL). The manner in which the switching device 21 can handle packets includes the following: The switching device can send a packet from the network 12 to the computer 14 (or in the opposite direction), the switching device 21 can ignore a packet received, either from network 12 or computer 14; and the switching device 21 can use a packet to perform an action prescribed by that packet, without sending the packet or to the network 12 or the computer 14. A common impediment to the use of the switching device 21 is that of the costs associated with the physical computing elements and with the computer programs necessary to implement the operation of the device 21 in accordance with the IEEE standards. This impediment can be eliminated over time if the costs of the switching device 21 decrease. Figure 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of the packet controller 24. The packet controller 24 includes a timer 63, a digital signal processor (DSP) 64, a processor 66 (for example an ARM processor), a direct access memory controller 68 (DMA), control circuitry 70, an address table 72 and a memory controller 74 connected to each other by a signal bus 76. Although shown separately, the timer 63 and the table 72 may be included within one of the other functional components 66, 68, 70 and 74. DSP 64 is in electrical communication with port 1/0 26 by signal lines 52. Memory controller 74 is in electrical communication with memory 36 by signal lines 78. DMA controller 68 is in communication with the MAC devices 28, 32 by the signal lines 54, 56. In one embodiment, the memory controller 74 can be included in the DMA 68 controller. Either the processor 66 or the DMA 68 controller can control the transfer of memory between MAC 28, 32 devices and memory 36.

The address table 72 stores addresses that are of importance to the telephone 10. Examples of those addresses include the address of the telephone 10, the identifier for a conference call and a broadcast address. The DMA controller 68 accesses the table 72 each time the telephone 10 receives a packet, to determine whether the telephone 10 uses the packet as described above. When the packet has a destination address that matches one of the addresses stored in table 72, the telephone 10 performs an action as prescribed by the packet. The telephone 10 may or may not subsequently send the packet to the network 12 or to the computer system 14, as explained above. In one embodiment, the table 72 also functions to filter packets from the subsequent shipment, including addresses of the computer system 14. In this mode, the DMA controller 68 uses the addresses stored in table 72 to discard, rather than send, the packets that are not directed to the telephone 10 or the computer system 14. You can add or delete the destination addresses from table 72. For example, when you start a conference call, the processor 66 (or the DMA 68 controller) stores the identifier of the conference call, in table 72 and deletes the identifier when the conference call ends. The implementation of this table 72 can be in software or hardware, but the query of the addresses in table 72 occurs faster when it is implemented in hardware in the described modality.

Operation of Sending Packages The following description details the process of sending packets along a route, from the network 12 and the MAC device 28 to the MAC32 device and the computer system 14. However, it should be understood that the process works similarly in the reverse direction. When the MAC device 28 receives a packet, the MAC device stores that packet in the temporary receiving device 29. The DMA controller 68 moves the received packet from the receiving temporary device 29 to the receiving region 40 of the memory 36 and compares the address of the packet, against the address stored in the address table 72. If the addresses match, then the telephone 10 uses the packet, as previously explained. When there is no match in the addresses or when the packet is a general telephone packet, then the packet moves from the receiving region 40 to the transmission region 42 for subsequent sending to the computer system 14. The processor 66 evaluates the package to determine in which block, 45 or 47, of the transmission region 42, will place the package. If the packet has priority, then the processor 66 places the packet in the priority block 45. If the packet does not have a priority status, then the processor 66 places the packet in the general block 47 or gives the packet a priority status and then place the packet in the priority block 45. From the transmission region 40, the controller DMA 68 moves the packet to the temporary transmission device 35 of the MAC device 32, which moves the packet over the communications path 18 to the computer system 14. When a series of packets is processed, the DMA 68 controller continuously supplies the the memory 36 packs and keeps the temporary transmission device 35 of the MAC device 32 full.

Package Generation Operation Figure 6 provides a flow chart describing a process by which the packet controller 24 constructs voice data packets from audio signals received by the I / O port 26. The packets generated can be single packets. class or of multiple classes, for use in a direct telephone communication, or in a conference call. In step 78, the DSP 64 digitizes consecutive samples of audio signals and concatenates the digitized signals into a data structure that includes voice data corresponding to the audio signals. When the data structure includes voice data generated from samples of audio signals having a predetermined duration (for example 24 ms), the DSP 64 sends signals to the processor 66 (step 80). The processor 66 forms a structure around the data structure and produces, in one embodiment, an Ethernet packet. Due to the time-sensitive nature of the voice data, the processor 66 can add data to the data structure, which indicates that the packet has priority. In step 82 • the packet is put on the waiting list in the priority block 45, 55 of the transmission section 42, 48. The DMA controller 68 subsequently passes the packet that is in the priority block 45, 55 to the MAC device 28, 32 for transmission as an Ethernet packet.

Give on time When moving the packets from the memory 36 to the MAC devices 28, 32, the DMA controller 68 gives priority to the packets stored in the priority block 45, 55. The priority works to increase the importance of certain packets, in such a way that those packets receive special treatment to reach one or both of the networks 12, 14. The ability of the telephone 10 to concurrently send non-prioritized packets and generate prioritized packets, can produce situations where a minor packet is put on the list of it waits on a MAC device, waiting to be sent, when a time-sensitive voice packet is generated. For voice data to be useful, typically that voice data must reach the destination within a certain period of time (ie up to about 50 ms), although the critical period of time for the delivery of control data is generally longer. Other types of data may not be time sensitive. Instead of waiting until the package placed on the waiting list leaves the temporary transmission device of the MAC device and risk-reducing the utility of the voice data packet, the processor 66 can give exclusivity to the transmission of that packet and replace that packet. with the highest priority voice data packet. The processor 66 may discard the replaced packet, or store the packet until the voice transmission is completed, at which time the transmission of the replaced packet ends. Giving high priority to voice data packets facilitates timely delivery of data in real time. Although the invention has been presented and described with reference to specific, preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes in shape and details can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as they are defined by the following claims.

Claims (27)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the above invention, it is considered as a novelty, and therefore, the content of the following is claimed as property: CLAIMS 1. A conference system in telecommunications, characterized in that it comprises: a network; at least three telecommunication devices, connected to the network, each telecommunication device enters a concurrent telephone communication and includes: an I / O device in electrical communication with the network, to receive and send packets to other devices connected to the network; an input device for producing audio signals from a local input to the device; a packet controller in electrical communication with the I / O device and with the input device, the packet controller (a) generates packets from the audio signals received by the input device, (b) sends the generated packets to the 1/0 device for transmission to the network and (c) combines the packets received by (at least one of) the 1/0 devices and produces an audio signal with the combined packets and with the audio signals of the entry.
2. 2. The telecommunications conference system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the packets generated from the audio signals received by the input device are packets of a single class, the packet controller generates one of the packets of a single class for each of the other telecommunication devices occupied in the concurrent telephone communication.
3. 3. The telecommunications conference system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the packets generated from the audio signals received by the input device are packets of multiple classes. The conference system in telecommunications, according to claim 1, characterized in that the combining step comprises combining at least portions of the packets received by at least one of the I / O devices and by the input device. 5. The telecommunication conference system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the combining step comprises selecting at least a portion of one of the packets received by at least one of the I / O devices and by the input device. . The conference system in telecommunications, according to claim 1, characterized in that each telecommunications device generates the combination from the packets received from other telecommunication devices known by that telecommunication device because it is occupied in the concurrent telephone communication. . 7. The telecommunication conference system, according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: a second I / O device in electrical communication with a second network and with the packet controller. The conference system in telecommunications, characterized in that it comprises: at least three telecommunications devices connected to a network, each telecommunications device is engaged in a concurrent telephone communication and receives a unique identifier that is associated with the telecommunications device that is occupied in the concurrent telephone communication, each telecommunications device includes: an I / O device in electrical communication with the network; a local input device to produce audio signals; a packet controller in electrical communication with the I / O device and with the input device, the packet controller (a) generates packets of multiple classes from the audio signals received from the input device and (b) send packets of multiple classes, generated, to the 1/0 device for transmission to the network, each packet of multiple classes generated, includes the identifier associated with each of the telecommunication devices that are occupied in the concurrent telephone communication. The telecommunications conference system, according to claim 8, characterized in that the packet controller of each telecommunications device, produces a combination of the multi-class packets received from the other telecommunication devices occupied in the concurrent telephone communication. and generated in that telecommunications device. The conference system in telecommunications, according to claim 9, characterized in that the combination is selected from one of the packets of multiple classes received from the other of the telecommunications devices occupied in the concurrent telephone communication. The conference system in telecommunications, according to claim 8, characterized in that the device 1/0 of each telecommunications device communicates with the network through a first communication path and each telecommunications device also includes a second 1/0 device in electrical communication with a second network through a second communication path. 12. The telecommunication conference system, according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises: a second I / O device in electrical communication with a second network and with the packet controller. 13. A method for carrying out a concurrent telephone communication between at least three telecommunications devices connected to a network, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: receiving in one of the telecommunications devices, voice data packets transmitted by the other devices of telecommunications, performing concurrent telephone communication; receive an audio signal from a local input and generate packets from the audio signal from the local input; send the packets generated from the audio signal, from the local input of that telecommunications device, to the other of the telecommunications devices, performing the concurrent telephone communication; generating in one of the telecommunications devices a combination of the received voice data packets; generating in said telecommunications device audio signals corresponding to the combination of the received voice data packets and combining the audio signals corresponding to the combination of the received voice data packets, with an audio signal of the input local The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the step of receiving an audio signal coming from a local input and generating packets from the audio signal includes generating from the received audio signals, packets of multiple classes that have voice data corresponding to the audio signals received from the local input and send the packets of multiple classes to the network. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the step of receiving an audio signal from a local input and generating packets from the audio signal includes generating from the audio signals received from the local input , a packet of a single class, for each of the other telecommunications devices that carry out the concurrent telephone communication, each single class packet has voice data corresponding to the received audio signals; and send each generated single class packet to the network. 16. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises the step of selecting only one of the voice data packets received from each of the other telecommunications devices, to generate the combination. 17. The telecommunications conference system, according to claim 8, characterized in that each telecommunications device receives a list of participants based on the telecommunications devices participating in the concurrent telephone communication, the packet controller of each telecommunications device. sends or drops packets without the identifier that corresponds to the participants and sends packets with the identifier that corresponds to the participants to the circuitry associated with the input device, the circuitry produces audio signals that correspond to the voice data that They are in the packages. 18. The telecommunications conference system, according to claim 17, characterized in that the list of participants is based on the identifier associated with each of the telecommunications devices occupied in the concurrent telephone communication. 19. An audio conference system, characterized in that it comprises: a network; a first network device connected to the network; a second network device connected to the network; a third network device connected to the network, each network device includes a network input / output device to receive packets from other devices connected to the network and send packets over the network, a local device with a sound input local and a sound output and a packet controller in electrical communication with the input / output device and the local device, the packet controller (a) generates packets from the audio signals received by the local sound input, (b) sends the generated packets to the input / output device for transmission to the network, (c) combines the packets received by the input / output device and (d) produces audio signals based on the combined packets and the audio signals from the local device. 20. The audio conference system, according to claim 19, characterized in that the packets generated by the packet controller are packets of multiple classes from the audio signals received from the input device, the packet controller sends the packets of multiple classes generated, to the input / output device for transmission to the network, each package of multiple classes, generated, includes the identifier associated with each of the telecommunications devices occupied in the concurrent telephone communication. 21. The audio conferencing system, according to claim 20, characterized in that each network device receives a list of participants based on the network devices participating in the concurrent telephone communication, the packet controller of each device. network sends or drops packets without the corresponding identifier to the participants and sends packets with the corresponding identifier to the participants, to the set of circuits associated with the input device, the circuitry produces audio signals corresponding to the voice data that They are in the packages. 22. The audio conference system, according to claim 21, characterized in that the list of participants is based on the identifier associated with each of the devices in the network occupied in the concurrent telephone communication. 23. An audio conference system characterized in that it comprises: a network; a first network device connected to the network; a second network device connected to the network; a third network device connected to the network, each network device includes a network input / output device to receive packets from other devices connected to the network and send packets on the network, a local device with a local sound input and a sound output and a controller. packets in electrical communication with an input / output device and with the local device, the packet controller, a packet controller in electrical communication with the input / output device and with the input device, the packet controller (a) generates packets of multiple classes from the audio signals received from the input device and (b) sends the packets of multiple classes generated to the input / output device for transmission to the network, each packet of multiple classes generated includes the identifier associated with each of the network devices occupied in the concurrent telephone communication. 24. The audio conference system, according to claim 23, characterized in that the packet controller (c) generates packets from the audio signals received by the input device, (d) sends the generated packets to the device input / output for transmission to the network, (e) combines the packets received by the input / output device and (f) produces audio signals based on the combined packets, in combination with the audio signals of the local device . 25. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the step of receiving an audio signal from a local input and generating packets from the audio signal includes using a packet controller to generate packets of multiple classes from of the audio signals received from a local input device and send the packets of multiple classes generated, to an input / output device of one of the telecommunication devices for transmission to the network, the input / output device is connected to the network for transmitting packets through the network and receiving packets, each generated multi-class packet includes the identifier associated with each of the telecommunication devices occupied in the concurrent telephone communication. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that each network device receives a list of participants, based on the network devices participating in the concurrent telephone communication, the packet driver of each network device sends or discards packets. without the identifier corresponding to the participants and sending packets with the corresponding identifier to the participants to the circuitry associated with the local input device, the circuitry produces audio signals corresponding to the voice data in the packets. 27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the list of participants is based on the identifier associated with each of the network devices occupied in the concurrent telephone communication.