MXPA00007550A - Telecommunication apparatus and method for forwarding packets using separate collision domains - Google Patents

Abstract

A telecommunication apparatus and method for providing packets to at least one of a first and a second networks are described. A telephone set (15) connects the first network (12) to the second network (14). In one embodiment, the telephone set includes two MAC devices. Each MAC device is in electrical communication with one of the two networks via a communication path. In another embodiment, a packet switching device provides the separate communication paths to the two networks. The telephone set forwards packets received from one network to the other network, generates packets from signals locally inputted into the telephone set and forwards such generated packets to at least one of the networks, and performs actions prescribed by packets received by and addressed to the telephone set. Packets addressed to the telephone set may or may not be forwarded.

Description

APPARATUS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS METHOD FOR SENDING PACKAGES USING SEPARATE COLLISION DOMAINS 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 over communication routes having separate collision domains. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many modem businesses use two separate telecommunications networks for voice and data. The costs associated with installing and maintaining two networks have led some businesses to look for ways to integrate voice and data into a single telecommunications network infrastructure. As a result, the telecommunications industry has produced systems that integrate telephones and computers over the same network. In these systems, telephones and computers share the same cable infrastructure to transmit computer data and voice data. Advances in technology, continuously increase the capacity of data regime of networks. The Ethernet network, which is a prevalent type of local area network (RAL), is an example. Devices (or nodes) connected to an 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 Ethernet has since evolved to support 100 and 1000 Mbps network data regimes. Although current implementations of integrated telecommunications systems can adequately support Network data regimes of the order of 10 Mbps, these systems can not adequately provide equivalent functionality at network speeds of 100 Mbps and beyond. This is due, in part, to the use of connection ports through current implementations of integrated telecommunications systems to send Ethernet packets in the local area network. A connection hole is a network device that deposits received Ethernet packets in a communication path over another communication path. Many communication routes can be found in a connection hole. Because a connection hole does not provide separate collision domains, the devices using these communication routes compete with each other for the use of the connection port. A collision domain is a segment of the local area network where the collision occurs when any two devices attempt to transmit packets simultaneously on that segment.

When a packet collision occurs on a segment, the devices that send the packets are alerted to the collision and fall back, that is, the sending devices wait a predetermined period of time before trying to complete the transmission of the packets on that segment . The IEEE 802.3 standard specifies a backward algorithm that each sending device must perform to comply with the standard when it is involved in a packet collision. However, a problem is that at high data rates (for example data rates of 100 Mbps and beyond), a sending device may incorrectly consider a packet transmission to have arrived successfully even if that packet later encounters a collision after spreading through the network. Typically, at lower data rates (for example, 10 Mbps), this collision causes the sending device to backtrack on future attempts to transmit the packet. However, high data rates allow the sending device to complete the transmission of the packet before it occurs or the collision is detected. In addition, the sending device can then continue transmitting other packets in that network segment. At high data rates, the propagation delay incurred in the network can avoid the timely detection of collisions and make the operation of the integrated telecommunications system impracticable. SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, the invention features a telecommunications apparatus for providing packets to at least one first network and a second network. The apparatus includes a first input / output device in electrical communication with the first network via a first communications path. A second input / output device is in electrical communication with the second network via a second communication path. An input port receives signals (for example, audio signals) from an input device. A controller packet in communication with the first and second input / output devices and the input port: (a) sends the packets received by the first input / output device to the second input / output device for transmission to the second network; and (b) generates packets from the signals received by the input port for transmission to at least one of the first and second networks. In one embodiment, the invention includes memory for storing packets, and a direct memory access controller (DMA) in electrical communication with the memory and input / output devices. The direct memory access controller sends packets from the first input / output device to the second input / output device via the memory. The invention may also include a table that stores addresses. The direct memory access controller compares a destination address of each packet received by the packet driver to perform an action as prescribed by that packet. The memory can be organized into sections. Each memory section may be associated with one of the input / output devices and may include a reception region for storing the packets received by the associated input / output device and a transmission region for storing packets to be sent to the associated input / output device. The receiving region may include a specific block for storing packets directed to the apparatus and a general block for storing packets directed to other devices. The transmission region may include a priority block for storing prioritized packets and a general block for storing non-prioritized packets. The invention may include a first medium access control device (MAC) and a second means access control device. The first medium access control device includes a first input / output device and the second medium access control device includes the second input / output device. The first input / output device can receive a packet that includes an address. In response to that address, the package controller can perform an action as prescribed by that package. The package controller can discard the packet with or without sending the packet to a second input / output device. The package controller can prioritize the packet before sending the packet to the second input / output device. The packet driver uses the priority data to determine an order in which to send the packets. The first and second input / output devices, the input port, and the packet controller can be arranged in an integrated circuit device. In one embodiment, the first network can be an Ethernet network and can operate at a data rate of 10 Mbps or greater. In another aspect, the invention features a telecommunications apparatus that includes an input port, a first input / output device in electrical communication with a first network via a first communications path, a second input / output device in electrical communication with a second network via a second communication path, and a packet controller in electrical communication with the input / output devices. The packet controller sends a first portion of the packets received by the first input / output device to the second input / output device and discards a second portion of the received packets without sending these packets to the second input / output device. The package controller can include an address table that stores addresses. The packet handler may discard each packet from the second portion of received packets when that packet includes a destination address that matches an address stored in the address table. The first portion of the packets received by the first input / output device are not prioritized and the packet driver can prioritize the first portion of the packets before sending these packets. In another aspect, the invention features a telecommunications apparatus that includes a first and a second input / output device., a port of entry, and a packet driver. The first input / output device is in electrical communication with the first network via a first communication path. A second input / output device is in electrical communication with the second network via a second communication path. An input port receives signals (for example, audio signals) from an input device. A packet controller (a) sends packets received by the first input / output device to the second input / output device for transmission to the second network; (b) generates packets from the signals received by the input port for transmission to at least one of the first and second networks; and (c) prioritize packets before sending these packets to one of the input / output devices. The second input / output device may include memory that stores a packet to be sent to the second network. The packet driver can remove the packet from memory and replace the packet with a packet that has a higher priority. The packet driver can replace the replaced packet or restore the replaced packet to memory after the packet having the highest priority is sent. In another aspect, the invention features a telecommunications apparatus that includes a packet switching device, an input port, and a packet controller. The packet switching device communicates with a first network via a first communication path and with the second network via a second communication path, and sends packets received from the first network to the second network. The packet controller generates packets from the signals received by the input port for transmission to at least one of the first and second networks through the packet switching device. In one mode, the input port is connected to a third network. The packet controller may send a first portion of the packets received from the first network to the second network and discard a second portion of the received packets without sending these packets to the second network. The packet driver can also prioritize packets before sending these packets to one of the networks. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is pointed out with particularity to the appended claims. The above and additional advantages of the invention can be better understood by reference to the following description together with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagram of a mode of two separate networks connected by a system for sending packets in the which invention is practiced. Figure 2 is a diagram of one embodiment of the system for sending packets of Figure 1 coupled between a computer system and an Ethernet network. Figure 3 is a diagram of a system mode that sends packets of Figure 2, which includes a packet driver. Figure 4 is a diagram of another embodiment of the system that sends packets 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 flowchart representation of a mode of a process whereby packets are generated and queued within the system to send packets. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows a system for sending packages of the invention connected between a first network 12 and a second network 14 by electrical communication paths 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 a wide area network (AN). In one embodiment, the system for sending packets 10 is the only electrical connection between network 12 and network 14. In Figure 1, each electrical communication path 16, 18 is a network segment that is part of a different domain of communication. collision. More specifically, the collision domain including the network 12 and the communication path 16 is separated from the collision domain that includes the network 14 and the communication path 18. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the sending system packets 10 maintains the separation of the two collision domains. The system sending packets 10 includes the input / output devices 15 for transmitting signals and receiving signals from a local device 17. In one embodiment, the input / output devices 15 include a microphone, a keyboard, and a telephone set. Other input / output devices are possible, (for example, hearing aids). The input / output devices 15 also include a liquid crystal display (LED), light emitting diodes, loudspeakers (LED), and a telephone set. Other types of input / output devices can be used to practice the invention. The local device 17 can be any device capable of using the input / output devices 15 to receive signals or transmit signals to the system to send packets 10 (for example, a computer or a human operator). The system for sending packets 10 may also include a first encoder-decoder (not shown) coupled with the microphone and speakers and a second encoder-decoder (not shown) coupled with the telephone apparatus to perform analog-to-digital and digital conversions in analog of audio signals. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the system for sending packets 10 uses and / or sends packets received from one of the networks to another of the networks. More specifically, the system for sending packets 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 packets received specifically can be addressed to the system for sending packets 10 (for example, the destination address in these packets is destination address 10). In this case, the system for sending packets 10 uses but does not send these packets to one of the networks 12, 14. In another embodiment, the system for sending packets 10 uses and sends the packets. Other types of received packets (e.g., transmission packets) may be of interest and used by the system to send packets 10. Packets may also originate in the system to send packets 10, such as when a user places a packet. phone call. To place a phone call, the user presses several keys on the keyboard and speaks on the telephone set. The system for sending packets 10 generates packets from the signals produced by the keyboard and the telephone apparatus and sends the generated packets to either or both of the networks 12, 14. The content of these packets depends on the source of the packets. signs For audio signals (ie voice), the generated packets include voice data. For digital signals produced by the keyboard, the generated packages include control data. The system for sending packets 10 can also initiate the generation of packets (for example, to issue an alarm or other types of status packets). As further described below, the system for sending packets 10 may add a priority level to the packets, the priority level depending on the type of data included in these packets. In general, there are at least two levels of priority. In a detailed mode, a packet has one of three priority levels: high, medium, and not prioritized (that is, the packet is not given priority). In one embodiment, the priority level effects the order in which the system for sending packets 10 queues in the memory the associated packets for transmission to one of the networks 12, 14. In another mode, the priority determines the order in which the packets are removed from the memory when they are sent to one of the networks 12, 14. The system for sending packets 10 can detect when the networks 12, 14 are inadvertently connected to each other by a different route than through of the system for sending packets 10. In one embodiment, the system for sending packets 10 periodically transmits a packet via one of the communication paths 16, 18 and determines whether that packet returns to the system to send packets 10 via the other communications path. In another embodiment, the system for sending packets can determine that identical packets of both communication paths 16, 18 have arrived at almost the same time. The system for sending packets 10 may display a warning on the liquid crystal display and disable communication via one of the two communication paths 16, 18 until the inadvertent connection is disconnected. However, it will be understood that the principles of the invention can be practiced even when the networks 12, 14 are inadvertently connected.

Figure 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the system for sending packets 10 as a telecommunications device 10 that bypasses two Ethernet networks 12 and 14. Examples of telecommunications devices include a telephone set and a telephone line interface module device (TLIM) ). For exemplary purposes, the telecommunications device throughout the following description is a telephone device (hereinafter, telephone set 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 plugged into a receptacle of the telephone apparatus 10. In this way, a single infrastructure network supports both computers and phones. Although only one of the telephone sets is shown, it should be understood that multiple telephone sets, each of which can be coupled with computer systems, can be similarly connected to the Ethernet network 12. The computer system 14 can access the file server 20 through the packet sending operation provided by the telephone set 10. To request access to the server 20, the computer system 14 transmits Ethernet packets including the destination address of the server 20 to the telephone set 10 via the communication path 18. After receiving the packets, the telephone apparatus 10 determines that the packets are not directed to the telephone set 10, and queues the packets for transmission to the network 12 via the communications path 16. Concurrent with this request by the computer system 14, a user of the telephone set 10 may be having a conversation tel Efonic with the user of another telephone device (not shown) connected to the network 12. The audio signals enter the telephone set 10 through one of the input / output devices 15, (for example, the telephone set). From these audio signals, the telephone set 10 produces packets that include voice data. Because the voice data is time sensitive, (ie, as the time elapses the utility of the voice data decreases significantly), the telephone apparatus 10 may give higher priority to packets that include voice data than to the packets that include control data, such as the call request. server made by the computer system 14. Accordingly, the telephone set 10 can acquire in advance the transmission of the packets representing the request of the server and first queue the voice data packets for transmission. While the telephone set 10 is prepared to transmit voice data packets to the network 12, the voice data packets generated by the other telephone set connected in the conversation can be received by the telephone set 10 via the communications path 16. The destination addresses in these voice data packets can indicate that the telephone set 10 is the target receiver. In this case, the telephone apparatus 10 produces audio signals from the voice data in the packets and produces audio signals to one of the input / output devices 15, (for example, the manual telephone). As a result, the user of the telephone set 10 listens to the audio signals generated by the other user. The telephone apparatus 10 can then discard the received voice data packets or send the packets to the computer system 14. The user of the telephone set 10 can be connected in a "conference call" (ie, a conversation with two or more users). more telephones connected to the network 12). From the audio signals produced by the user, the telephone apparatus 10 generates packets that include voice data. The telephone set 10 then transmits the generated packets to the network 12. In a mode, each telephone set 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 starting the conference call and can change as participants are added or removed. The telephone set 10 generates a transmission packet for each telephone set from the list of participants. For example, when the telephone set 10 is connected in a conference call with two other participants, the telephone set 10 generates two packets of a single transmission having the same voice data and the telephone set 10 as the source address. The destination address in one of the two packets of a single transmission is the address of one of the other two telephone sets, and the destination address in the second packet of a single transmission is of the other of the two telephone sets. In another embodiment, at the beginning of the conference call, each telephone apparatus receives an identifier associated with the conference call. This identifier can be generated before the start of the conference call and can change during the conference call. The telephone apparatus 10 generates multiple transmission packets that include the identifier associated with the conference call. In each multicast packet, the telephone set 10 is the origin address and the identifier may be the destination address. The telephone set 10 uses only those packets of the known telephone sets which are to be connected in the conference call. For single transmission packets, the source address of the received packets can be compared against a list of participants. For multiple transmission packets, the identifier can indicate whether the packet comes from a participant in the conference call. When the telephone set 10 receives a packet, the telephone set 10 determines that the packet came from a participant in a conference call, produces audio signals corresponding to the voice data in the packet, and produces the audio signals to the telephone set (or speaker). When multiple packets arrive at a telephone set from different sources, that telephone apparatus combines the received packets and produces audio signals corresponding to the voice data of the combination. The telephone set 10 can combine packets received from other telephone sets with packets generated by the telephone set 10 from locally received audio signals. To produce the combination, the telephone set 10 may combine the voice data of the received packets or select to process (i.e., produce audio signals from the voice data packets) one or more of the packets in accordance with a predetermined criterion. One criterion may be to process the packet with the voice data having the highest volume (that is, the strongest). The telephone apparatus 10 can discard or send unused voice data packets.

Figure 3 shows, in greater detail, an exemplary embodiment of telephone set 10. Telephone set 10 includes a packet controller 24 coupled with an input / output port 26, two means access control devices 28 and 32, the memory 36, and the input / output control circuit 50. A contour 62 surrounds components 24, 26, 28, 32, and 50 which, in one embodiment of the invention, are arranged in an integrated circuit device (ASIC) . It will be appreciated that other designs of integrated circuits are possible, such as, for example, one in which the memory 36 is included in the integrated circuit. The input / output port 26 is in electrical communication with the input / output devices 15, (i.e., the microphone, the hearing aids or the telephone set), to receive audio signals from a user of the telephone set 10 and to transmit audio signals to the input / output devices 15, (for example, the speaker or earphone), so that these signals are audible to the user. The input / output control circuit 50 is coupled to the input / output devices 15, (for example, the keyboard, the liquid crystal display, and the light emitting diode), to receive input signals from the board and transmitting control signals to the liquid crystal display and the light emitting diode. The packet controller 24 is in electrical communication with the input / output port 26 via the signal line 52 and the input / output control circuit 50 via the signal line 53. The packet controller 24 is in electrical communication with the memory 36 via the signal lines 35, with the access control device to the medium 28 via the signal lines 54 and with the access control device to the medium 32 via the signal line 56 to control the transfer of packets between the memory 36 and the means access control devices 28 and 32. The packet controller 24 includes a timer 63. In the mode, the media access control devices 28, 32 are 10/100 Ethernet ports capable to operate at 100 Mbps network data speed. The medium access control devices 28, 32 are physical interfaces for receiving and transmitting packets to the Ethernet networks 12, 14. Each medium access control device 28, 32 provides a separate collision domain for the packets to be received. transmit in the respective communications paths 16, 18. The first collision domain is the network segment that includes the access control device to the medium 28 in electrical communication with the network 12 via the communications path 16. The second domain of collision includes the access control device to the medium 32 in electrical communication with the computer system 14 via the communications path 18.

As a result of the separate collision domains, the means access control devices 28, 32 operate so that both can concurrently transmit packets and / or concurrently receive packets or one of the media access control devices can receive packets while that the other transmits packets, without collisions between the networks. Each medium access control device 28, 32 includes temporary memory 30, 34 for storing the packets prepared for transmission to the network 12 or the packets received from the network 12 via the communication paths 16, 18. The memory temporary 30, 34 includes a temporary receiving memory 29, 34 and a transmitting temporary memory 31, 35. In one embodiment, the temporary memory 30, 34 adapts to the size to store 8 or 16 bytes of data. The temporary memory 30, 34 may be internal or external to the media access control devices 28, 32. In one embodiment, each media access control device 28, 32 includes a temporary memory controller to handle packet transfers to and from the temporary memory. Other modes combine the controllers in a single component or incorporate the temporary memory controller within the packet controller 24. The memory 36 may be implemented using synchronous dynamic random access memory (MAADS). Other types of memory devices can be used (for example, MAAS). The memory organization 36 provides dedicated, separate memory sections, 38, 44 for each of the media access control devices 28, 30. The separate sections 38, 44 operate to maintain the separate collision domains provided by the media access control devices 28, 30. The memory section 38 supports the media access control device 28 via the signal lines 58 and the memory section 44 supports the media access control device 32 via the signal lines 60. The memory sections 38, 44 are divided into a receiving region 40, 46 and a transmitting region 42, 48. Each receiving region 40, 46 is divided into a specific block 41, 49 for storing the packets directed to the receiver. telephone apparatus 10 and a general block 43, 51 for storing the packets directed to another device different from the telephone set 10. Each transmitting region 42, 48 is divided into a block of priority ad 45, 55 for packages that have priority and a general block 47, 57 for non-prioritized packages. Other ways of using the memory 36 to implement the priority are considered. For example, the memory 36 can be organized as a temporary memory to store packets as the packets arrive at the telephone set. Instead of evaluating each packet as that packet arrives to determine the block of memory in which to store that packet, each packet can be stored directly in memory 36 after arrival and subsequently examined to determine its priority when a packet is selected to send it to one of the input / output devices. Each packet received by an access control device to the medium from the network 12 includes the information necessary to determine the place in the memory 36 for storing the packet. The categories of packages include "specific telephone", "general telephone", or "general different". The telephone set 10 uses (ie, performs an action as prescribed in the package) specific telephone packs and general telephone packs. Examples of actions include converting packets with voice data into audio signals and producing audio signals to a local input / output device 17, displaying a message on the liquid crystal display, reset error flags, setting the current time on a internal clock of the telephone set 10, and other maintenance functions. The telephone set 10 sends the general telephone packets, but not specific telephone packets, to the computer system 14. An example of general telephone packets are those packets produced during a conference call. Both categories of packages, specific telephone and general telephone, are stored within the specific block 41, 49 of the receiving region 40, 46. Packages that are different general are stored in the general block 43, 51 and subsequently are sent to the computer system 14. Telephone set 10 does not use these packages. Figure 4 shows another mode 10 'of the telephone set 10 in Figure 3. The telephone set 10' includes a packet controller 24 'coupled to an input / output (I / O) port 26', a control interface of access to medium 23, memory 36 ', and input / output control circuit 50'. The access control interface to the medium 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 access control interface to the medium 23 can be remove to allow direct connection from the packet controller 24 'to the switching device 21. The above descriptions for the packet controller 24, the input / output port 26, the memory 36, the input control circuit / output 50 in Figure 3 are the same as the corresponding components in Figure 4. The medium access control interface 23 provides an interface that controls communications between network 12 and computer system 14 with telephone apparatus 10 ' . The switching device 21 provides a function carried out by the two means access control devices 28, 32 of Figure 3, which is to maintain separate collision domains for network 12 and computer system 14. Switching device 21 can be implemented using a 3-port fast Ethernet integrated circuit NP313, developed by NeoParadigm Labs, Inc. (NPL). The manner in which the switching device 21 can handle packets includes the following: the switching device 21 can send a packet from the network 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 as prescribed by that packet, without sending the packet either to the network 12 or to the computer 14. A current impediment to using the switching device 21 is the cost associated with the Hardware and Software necessary to implement the operation of the device 21 in accordance with IEEE standards. This impediment can be eliminated over time if the switching device costs 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), an access controller, and direct memory (DMA) 68, the control circuit 70, an address table 72, and a memory controller 74 coupled to the others by a signal bus 76. Although shown separately, the timer 63 and the table 72 they may be included within the other functional components 66, 68, 70 and 74. The digital signal processor 64 is in electrical communication with the input / output port 26 via the signal lines 52. The memory controller 74 is in communication with the memory 36 through the signal lines 78. The direct memory access controller 68 is in electrical communication with the means access control devices 28, 32 by means of the lines Signals 54, 56. In one embodiment, the memory controller 74 may be included in the direct memory access controller 68. Either the processor 66 or the direct memory access controller 68 can control the memory transfer between the means access control devices 28, 32 and the memory 36. The address table 72 stores addresses that are of importance to the telephone set 10. Examples of these addresses include the address of the telephone set 10, the identifier for a call by conference, and a general transmission address. The direct memory access controller 68 accesses the table 72 whenever the telephone set 10 receives a packet to determine whether the telephone set 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 set 10 performs an action as prescribed by the packet. The telephone apparatus 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 direct memory access controller 68 uses the addresses stored in table 72, to discard, instead of send, packets that are not directed to the telephone set 10 or to the computer system 14. The destination addresses can be added or removed from table 72. For example, when a conference call is initiated, the processor 66 (or the controller) direct memory access 68) stores the conference call identifier in table 72 and removes the identifier when the conference call ends. The implementation of this table 72 can be hardware or software, but the address query in table 72 is presented faster when implemented in hardware in the described mode.

Packet sending operation The following description describes the process of sending packets along a route from the network 12 and the access control device to the medium 28 to the access control device to the medium 32 and the computer system 14 However, it will be understood that the process works similarly in the reverse direction. When the medium access control device 28 receives a packet, the medium access control device 28 stores that packet in the receiving buffer 29. The direct memory access controller 68 moves the received packet from the receiving buffer 29 to the receiving region 40 of the memory 36 and compares the destination address of the packet against the addresses stored in the address table 72. If the addresses match, then the telephone set 10 uses the packet, as previously explained. When there is no address matching or when the packet is a general telephone packet, then the packet is moved from the receiving region 40 to the transmitting region 42 for subsequent sending to the computer system 14. The processor 66 evaluates the packet to determine in which block, 45 or 47, of the transmitting region 42 place the packet. If the packet has priority, then the processor 66 places the packet in the priority block 45. If the packet does not have priority status, then the processor 66 places the packet in the general block 47 or gives the packet a priority status and then places the packet in the priority block 45. From the transmitting region 40, the direct memory access controller 68 moves the packet to the transmitting buffer 35 of the media access control device 32, which shifts the packet on the communications path 18 to the computer system 14. When a series of packets are processed, the direct memory access controller 68 continuously supplies the memory 36 with packets and keeps the transmitting temporary memory 35 of the controlling device access to the middle 32. Package generating operation Figure 6 provides a flow chart describing a process by which the packet controller 24 constructs and voice data packets from audio signals received by the input / output port 26. The generated packets can be single transmission or multiple transmission packets for use in an end-to-end telephone communication or in a conference call. In step 78, the digital signal processor 64 digitizes consecutive samples of audio signals and concatenates the digitized signals into a data structure including voice data corresponding to the audio signals. When the data structure includes voice data generated from samples of audio signals that extend a predetermined duration (e.g., 24 ms), the digital signal processor 64 signals the processor 66 (step 80). The processor 66 constructs a frame 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 indicating that the packet has priority. In step 82, the packet is queued in the priority block 45, 55 of the transmitting section 42, 48. The direct memory access controller 68 subsequently passes the packet in the priority block 45, 55 to the device. of access control to the medium 28, 32 for transmission as an Ethernet packet. On-time delivery When packets are moved from memory 36 to media access control devices 28, 32, direct memory access controller 68 gives priority to packets stored in priority block 45, 55. Priority operates to increase the importance of certain packages so that these packages receive special treatment to reach one or both of the networks 12, 14. The ability of the telephone set 10 to concurrently send non-prioritized packets and generate prioritized packets can produce occasions when a minor packet is queued in an access control device to the medium, waiting to be sent, when it is generated a voice packet sensitive to time. For a voice data to be useful, typically, this data must arrive at the destination within a certain period of time (ie, up to about 50 ms), while the critical period of time for delivery of control data is generally greater. Other types of data may not be time sensitive. Instead of waiting until the packet queue leaves the transmit buffer of the medium access control device, and risks reducing the utility of the voice data packet, the processor 66 can pre-acquire the transmission of that packet and replace it. the packet with the highest priority voice data packet. The processor 66 may discard the replaced packet, or store the packet until voice transmission is completed, at which time the transmission of the replaced packet resumes. Giving high priority to voice data packets facilitates the timely delivery of real-time data. Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (45)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the foregoing invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, property is claimed as contained in the following CLAIMS 1. A telecommunications apparatus for providing packets to at least one of a first network and a second network, comprising: a first input / output device in electrical communication with the first network via a first communications path; a second input / output device in electrical communication with the second network via a second communications path; a local input port to receive signals from a local input device; and a packet controller in communication with the first and second input / output devices and the input port, the packet controller (a) sends packets received by the first input / output device to the second input / output device for its transmission to the second network, and (b) generates packets from the signals received by the local input port for transmission to at least one of the first and second networks.
2. 2. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: memory for storing packets; and a direct memory access controller in electrical communication with the memory and the input / output devices, the direct memory access controller directs packets from the first input / output device to the second input / output device via the memory.
3. 3. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a table storing addresses, and wherein each received packet includes a destination address that is compared with the addresses stored in the table to determine whether the packet it will be used by the packet driver to perform an action as prescribed by that packet.
4. 4. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the memory is organized into sections, each section being associated with one of the input / output devices and including a receiving region for storing packets received by the device. associated input / output and a transmission region for storing packets to be sent to the associated input / output device.
5. 5. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the receiving region includes a specific block for storing the packets directed to the apparatus and a general block for storing packets directed to other devices.
6. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the transmission region includes at least one priority block for storing prioritized packets and a general block for storing non-prioritized packets.
7. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first medium access control device and a second medium access control device, characterized in that the first means access control device includes the first input / output device and the second medium access control device includes the second input / output device.
8. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first input / output device receives a packet including an address, and, in response to that address, the packet controller performs an action as prescribed. that package.
9. 9. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the packet controller discards the packet without sending the packet to the second input / output device.
10. 10. The telecommunications device in accordance with what is claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the packet controller sends the packet to the second input / output device.
11. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the packet controller prioritizes the packet before sending the packet to the second input / output device.
12. 12. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the packet controller prioritizes the packets received by one of the input / output devices before sending the packets to the other input / output device.
13. 13. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the packet controller prioritizes the packets generated by the packet controller before sending these packets to at least one of the input / output devices.
14. 14. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the signals received by the input port are audio signals.
15. 15. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first input / output device, the second input / output device, the input port, and the packet controller are arranged in an integrated circuit device.
16. 16. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first network is an Ethernet network.
17. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the first network operates a data rate of at least 100 Mbps.
18. 18. A telecommunications apparatus, comprising: a first input / output device that receives packets from the first network via a first communications path; a second input / output device in electrical communication with the second network via the second communication path; a local input port to receive signals from the local input device; and a packet controller in electrical communication with the local input port and the first input / output device and the second input / output device, the packet driver sending a first portion of the received packets to the second input / output device and discarding a second portion of the received packets without sending these packets to the second input / output device.
19. 19. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the package controller includes an address table that stores addresses, the packet controller discards the second portion of the received packets when these packets include a destination address that matches an address stored in the address table.
20. 20. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the first portion of the packets received by the first input / output device are not prioritized when received and the packet driver prioritizes the first portion of the packets. before sending the first portion to the second input / output device.
21. 21. A telecommunications apparatus, comprising: a first input / output device in electrical communication with the first network via a first communications path; a second input / output device in electrical communication with the second network via a second communications path; a local input port to receive signals from the local input device; and a packet controller in communication with the first and second input / output devices and the input port, the packet controller (a) sends packets received by the input / output device to the second input / output device for transmission to the second network, (b) generates packets from the signals received by the local input port to send at least one of the first or second input / output device, and (c) prioritizes packets before sending these packets to one of the input / output devices.
22. 22. The telecommunication apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising: memory in the second input / output device that stores a packet ready to be sent to the second network, and characterized in that the prioritized packets have a higher priority that the packet stored in memory, removing the packet driver the stored packet in memory and replacing the packet with one of the packets that have the highest priority.
23. 23. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the packet controller discards the replaced packet.
24. 24. The telecommunication apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the packet driver restores the replaced packet to the memory after the packet having the highest priority is sent.
25. 25. A telecommunications apparatus, comprising: a packet switching device in communication with a first network and a second network, the packet switching device communicates with a first network via a first communication path and with the second network via a second communication path, the packet switching device sends the received packets from the first network to the second network; an input port for receiving signals from an input device; and a packet controller in electrical communication with the packet switching device and the input port, the packet controller generating packets for the signals received by the input port for transmission to at least one of the first and second networks through the packet switching device.
26. 26. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the input port is in electrical communication with a third network.
27. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the packet controller sends a first portion of the received packets from the first network to the second network and discards a second portion of the received packets without sending these packages to the second network.
28. 28. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the packet controller prioritizes packets before sending these packets to one of the networks.
29. 29. A telephone device, comprising: a first means access control device in electrical communication with a first network via a first communications path; a second means access control device in electrical communication with a second network via a second communications path; a local input port to receive signals from a local input device; and a packet controller in communication with the first and second means access control device and the input port, the packet controller (a) sends packets received by the first medium access control device to the second control device of access to the medium for transmission to the second network and (b) generates packets from the signals received by the local input port for transmission to at least one of the first and second means access control devices.
30. The telephone set according to claim 29, characterized in that the packet controller sends a first portion of the packets received from the first medium access control device to the second means access control device and discards a second one. portion of the received packets without sending these packets to the second means access control device.
31. 31. The telephone apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that the packet controller prioritizes the packets before sending these packets to one of the means access control devices.
32. 32. In a telecommunications system including a first network coupled to the second network by a telecommunications device, a method for providing packets to at least one of the first and second networks comprising the steps of: receiving in the telecommunications device packets from the first network via a first communications route; receiving signals from a local input device at an input port of the telecommunications device; sending packets received from the first network to the second network via a second communications route; and generating packets in the telecommunications device from the signals received by the local input port sending at least one of the first and second networks.
33. 33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the steps of: receiving in the telecommunications device a packet including an address and performing an action in response to this address, as prescribed by this package.
34. 34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of discarding the packet without sending this packet to the second network.
35. 35. The method of conformance with claiming in claim 33 further comprising the step of sending the packet to the second network.
36. 36. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of prioritizing the packets before sending these packets to at least one of the first and second networks.
37. 37. The method according to claim 37, wherein the received signals are audio signals.
38. 38. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the steps of: sending a first portion of the packets received from the first network to the second network via the second communication path; and discarding a second portion of the packets received from the first network without sending these packets to the second network.
39. 39. The method of conformance with claiming in claim 38 further comprising the steps of: storing the addresses in an address table; and comparing the destination address in each of the received packets with the addresses stored in the address table, characterized in that each received packet having a destination address that matches an address stored in the address table is discarded.
40. 40. The method according to claim 37, characterized in that the first portion of the packets received from the first network are not prioritized when received., the packet driver prioritizing the first portion of the packets before sending these packets to the second network.
41. 41. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the telecommunications device includes an input / output device in electrical communication with the first network via a first communications path and that also includes the steps of: giving a priority to the packages generated in the telecommunications device; and sending the packets to the input / output device in an order determined by the priority given to the packets generated for the subsequent transmission to the first network.
42. 42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the input / output device includes memory, and further comprises the steps of: storing a packet in the memory of the input / output device 1/0 to transmit to the first network; remove the stored packet in memory when prioritized packets have a higher priority than the packet stored in memory; and replace the package removed with one of the packages having the highest priority.
43. 43. The method according to claim 42, further comprising the step of discarding the replaced packet.
44. 44. The method according to claim 42, further comprising the step of restoring the replaced packet to the memory after the packets having the highest priority are transmitted to the first network.
45. 45. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of: detecting that the first and second networks are connected to each other.