NL1021749C2 - Wireless digital key telephone service, includes key terminals with network port for connecting to e.g. computer - Google Patents

Abstract

The system includes at least one connection (14a, 14b) comprising a first central processor circuit for controlling the operation of this connection, a first audio processor circuit, a first network control unit and a first transceiver. The audio processor circuit is electronically connected to the first central processor circuit, a loudspeaker and a microphone so that audio signals received by the microphone can be sent to the first central processor circuit. A first network control unit sends network signal output from the first central processor circuit to a first network port connectable to e.g. a computer and sends network signals received by this port to this circuit. A first transceiver electronically connected to the first central processor circuit transmits and receives network and audio signals via a first antenna. The telephone exchange (12) in the system comprises a second central processor circuit for controlling the operation of this exchange, a memory device connected to this circuit for storing programs and information, a network exchange module stored in the memory device for managing the transmission of network signals between the telephone exchange and connection, an audio exchange module stored in the memory device for managing the transmission of audio signals between the telephone exchange and connection, and a second transceiver electronically connected to the second central processor circuit for transmitting and receiving network and audio signals via a second antenna. Network signals from the first network port and audio signals from the microphone received by the connection are sent via the first transceiver to the second transceiver. The network and audio exchange modules then process the network and audio signals and send them via the second transceiver to the first transceiver in order to ensure that the connection generates network and audio signals via the first network port and loudspeaker.

Description

Wireless digital dial-through number assembly

Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a telephone system, and more particularly, to a wireless digital dial-through number system ('key telephone system', KTS) with the simultaneous functions of audio signal center and network signal delivery.

2. Description of the prior art

Due to the global trend of freeing telecommunications and a state-level fundamental building of the information industry, the global telecommunications device market has shown tremendous demand and business opportunities in recent years. Therefore, the development of the communication devices industry has become an important factor in further economic developments.

Generally, wired telephone systems are becoming popular with economic growth. Users can communicate with people at different locations through a telephone in the hand, while the connection between them is mainly done through a switching system by system providers. The switching system is connected to multiple users and the connections between the users can be constructed by the switching system to exchange audio signals.

1021749 H The same telephone exchange structure is also widely used by companies for their internal communication and their information exchange. The most commonly used systems are a so-called business center 5 ('Private Branch Exchange', PBX) and a 'Direct dial number set' ('key telephone system', KTS). These are analog switching systems. To implement such a system in an office, connections are placed according to the workplace arrangements of the employees, while a switch is able to make the connection-to-connection and connection-to-output line connections.

By doing so, employees can communicate between connections and with outsiders through outgoing telephone lines.

I 15 A conventional KTS is wire-based, therefore the construction must be done according to an office layout. This often causes difficulties in construction and causes costs to rise. Moreover, when the layout of the office is changed, the cabling 20 must also be changed in a similar manner to maintain functionality in the working environment. Moreover, the conventional KTS does not offer the function of data network. Therefore, if companies want to build a data network, the already installed hardware such as cabling must be redone despite the existing telephone system, leading to wasted money and causing potential problems for office management.

On the other hand, the use of digital signal application instead of an analog signal in wireless telephony technology has been developed, but there are still a number of limitations due to interference between channels. A digitally improved wireless telecommuni- cation ('Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication', I DECT) system, which digitizes the signal, and a time-divided multiple access ('Time Division Multiple

Access', TDMA) was defined in 1992 to cater for increased service density and quantities I 1 Q? 1 7 a o 3 requirements. Under this specification, both a conventional analog or switching system can convert audio signals into wireless digitized signals, resulting in better distance and power than conventional analog wireless telephony through the use of high frequency channels. A digitized radio signal can avoid interference and maintain privacy. The wireless nature also simplifies the physical construction of the system.

However, the DECT system can only be integrated into a company communication system by linking a radio center between the DECT system and an existing PBX system. All signals must pass through the radio center before they can be sent in the DECT system. This structure is not suitable for KTS in wide use by companies nowadays. This is because the conventional KTS has no standard interface with the DECT system. Therefore, it is not easy to integrate the two different telephone systems to simultaneously provide an audio signal switching mechanism and a wireless transmission mechanism as can be done with the PBX system. Furthermore, the devices used in DECT are relatively expensive compared to those in the KTS, and the DECT cannot provide sufficient bandwidth to support a data network. As a result, companies still have to pay extra for a good network system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a wireless digital dial-through number assembly (KTS) with the simultaneous functions of audio signal switching and network data signal transmission to solve the above problems.

According to the present invention, a telephone system has at least one connection. The telephone system comprises a central processing circuit for controlling the operation of the connection, an audio processing circuit which is electronically connected to H the central processing circuit, a loudspeaker and a microphone. The speaker is used to transmit signals coming from the central processing circuit and the microphone receives signals and transmits the received signals to the central processing circuit.

The telephone system also comprises a network controller electronically connected to the central processing circuit and a network port for transmitting network signals output from the central processing circuit to the network port and transmitting network signals H received through the network port to the central processing H circuit.

These and other objects of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a wireless extension number assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of an I telephone exchange shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of the connection shown in Figure 1.

I DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

I LINING FORM

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a wireless digital dial-through number assembly (KTS) 10 according to the present invention. The wireless digital KTS 10 comprises a telephone exchange 12, at least one connection 14a, 14b, at least one computer 16a, 16b, and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) 18. The telephone exchange 12 is responsible for switching and sending of I audio signals and network signals. The connection 14 is used for receiving and transmitting audio and network signals from and to the telephone exchange 12 via wireless transmission. Furthermore, the terminals 14a, 14b are connected to the computer 16. The computer 16 comprises a network connection 20a, 20b for network communication.

When we consider the transmission of network signals, computer 16a can send a network signal to terminal 14a through network interface 20a. After receiving the signal, the terminal 14a will send a signal to the telephone exchange 12 by means of wireless transmission. The telephone exchange 12 can then send the signal to terminal 14b, again via wireless transmission. Because each network signal comprises information indicating the network address, the telephone exchange 12 will be able to send the signal to a specific computer, for example 16b, via connection 14b and network interface 20b, successively.

By means of the mechanism described above, the computer 16a can form a local area network (LAN) 20 using telephone exchange 12. In addition, the telephone exchange 12 can also be connected to an external network system 25, for example the internet, via line 24. As a result, computer 16 can be connected to external network system 25.

25 Now consider the transmission of audio signals.

When the telephone exchange 12 receives signals which are assigned to connection 14b which come from an external telephone system by means of a main line (trunk line) 22, the telephone exchange 12 will supply audio signals 30 to the assigned connection 14b by wireless transmission. In other words, a connection is established between the main line (trunk line) 22 and connection 14b. Moreover, when connection 14a wants to send signals to connection 14b, a connection 35 between connection 14a and 14b can be established by wireless transmission from the telephone exchange 12 to each connection 14. Telephone exchange 12 and the connection 14 - of wireless digital KTS 10 according to the present invention will then be described as follows.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of telephone center 12 of Figure 1. It comprises a central processing circuit 30, a memory device 32, a wireless transceiver 34, an antenna 36, a network control unit 38, a network port 40, an audio processing circuit 42 and an audio signal transmission port 44. The central processing circuit is responsible for controlling the switching of the telephone exchange 12.

The memory device 32 is connected to central processing circuit 30 and is used for storing commands and data. The memory device I comprises an audio exchange module 46 for processing the audio signals between the telephone exchange 12 and the terminal 14, and a network exchange module 48 for processing the network signals between the telephone exchange 12 and the terminal 14. The wireless transceiver 34 is connected to the central processing circuit 30 and is used for transmitting and receiving audio and network signals in a wireless manner. The I network controller 38 is connected to both the I central processing circuit 30 and the network port 40.

At the same time, the network port 40 is connected to external network system 25 through line 24, as shown in Fig. 1. Under this arrangement, network signals can be supplied between the central processing circuit 30 and an I network port 40 through network control unit 38.

The audio processing circuit 42 is electrically connected to both the central processing circuit 30 and the audio signal transmission port 44, and at the same time the audio transmission port 44 is connected to external telephone system 23 via the main line 22 as shown in Figure 1. Below In this arrangement, audio signals I 35 can be supplied between the central processing circuit 30 and the audio signal processing port 44 through audio processing circuit 42.

I 1021749 7

The audio processing circuit 42 comprises a D / A converter 50 and an A / D converter 52. The audio signals are sent from the external telephone system 23 in analog format, but they are processed and transmitted in the telephone exchange 12 and between the telephone exchange 12 and the connection 14 in a digital format. The two transducers 50 and 52 are used for the conversion between digital and analog audio signals in such a way that the telephone exchange 12 and the external telephone system 10 23 can communicate in a good manner.

Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the terminal 14 of Figure 1. The terminal 14 comprises a central processing circuit 60, a wireless transceiver 62, an antenna 64, a network control unit 66, a network port 68, an audio processing circuit 70, a loudspeaker 72 and a microphone 74. The central processing circuit 60 is responsible for controlling the connection 14.

The wireless transceiver 62 is electrically connected to the central processing circuit 60 and is used to send audio and network signals to antenna 36 and receive them from the wireless transceiver 62 through antenna 64. The network control unit 66 is electronically connected to the same central processing circuit 60 and the network port 68. At the same time, the network port 68 is connected to the network interface 20 of computer 16 in Figure 1. Under this arrangement, network signals can be delivered between the central processing circuit 60 and the network port 68 through network control unit 66.

The audio processing circuit 70 is electronically connected to the central processing circuit 60, the loudspeaker 72 and microphone 74. Therefore, the audio processing circuit 70 can transmit the audio signals 35 from the central processing circuit 60 through speaker 72, and collect audio signals from the central processing circuit 60 by microphone 74. The audio I π? 1 7 4 9 H processing circuit 70 also comprises a D / A converter 76 and I an A / D converter 78. The audio signals are processed and I sent in the telephone exchange 12 and between the telephone exchange 12 and the terminal 14 in digital format, but their transmission at speaker 72 and collection thereof at microphone 74 are in analog format. The two I converters 76 and 78 are used for conversion between I digital and analog audio signals so that the telephone center 12, the loudspeaker 72 and the microphone 74 can work together properly. In the example, the speaker 72 and the microphone 74 are both arranged in a handset of terminal 14, but may be installed on the main body of terminal 14 for I "hands-free" use. The interaction between the devices 15 of telephone exchange 12 and terminal 14 will be described as follows.

I Audio signal exchange I Reference is made to figures 1, 2 and 3. When a user at terminal 14a attempts to call a user at terminal 14b, the user I will dial the terminal number at terminal 14a 14b by means of a keyboard on the main body of the connection 14a. The telephone exchange 12 will build up a channel that interconnects the connections 14a and 14b. When the user picks up at terminal 14b, the central processing circuit 30 will operate the audio exchange module 46 to exchange the audio signals between terminals 14a and 14b. More specifically, the microphone 74 of terminal 14a 30 collects the analog audio signals from the user and transmits them to the audio processing circuit 70. The signals are then converted to digital audio signals through the IA / D converter 78. The central processing circuit 60 I sends the digital audio signals to the wireless transceiver 62, and then wirelessly to the telephone center 12 via antenna 64. The wireless transceiver 34 of the telephone exchange 12 receives the digital audio signal I 1021749 9 from terminal 14a via the antenna 36. Then, the central processing circuit 30 activates the audio exchange module 46 to perform processes such as merging, sorting, switching and replacing the sig-5 sew, which is usually the case for KTS. Thereafter, the audio exchange module 46 transmits the digital audio signal to terminal 14b through the wireless transceiver 34 and antenna 36. Finally, when the wireless transceiver 62 from terminal 14b receives the signals from the telephone exchange 12 via antenna 64, the central processing circuit 60 converts the signals to audio processing circuit 70 to convert them into analog audio signals. Subsequently, the user can hear the broadcast at connection 14b through loudspeaker 72.

In the same way that a call is detected coming from an external telephone system 23 via the main line 22, the telephone exchange 12 will also activate the audio exchange module 46 to construct a channel between the caller and the terminal 14. More in particular in particular, if a user of the external telephone system 23 would like to call a user at terminal 14a, the audio signal transmission port 44 of the telephone exchange 12 receives the analog audio signals from the external user. The signals 25 are delivered to the audio processing circuit 42 and converted to digital audio signals through the A / D converter 52. Next, the central processing circuit 30 operates the audio exchange module 46 to perform processes such as joining, sorting, 30 switching and rearranging the signal. Thereafter, the audio exchange module 46 wirelessly transmits the digital audio signals through the wireless transceiver 34 and the antenna 36 after the connection 14a. When the wireless transceiver 62 of the terminal 14a receives the signals from the telephone exchange 12 via antenna 64, the signals are delivered from the central processing circuit 60 to the audio processing circuit 70, then converted into digital audio signals via the D / A converter 76. Finally, the signals are transmitted through the speaker 72 and reach the user at terminal 14a.

This works in the same way for the other direction. The microphone 74 of the terminal 14a collects the analog audio signals from the user. The signals are delivered to the audio processing circuit 70 and converted into digital audio signals through the A / D converter 78. Subsequently, the central processing circuit 60 wirelessly transmits the signals through the wireless transceiver 62 and the antenna 64 to the telephone exchange 12. The wireless transceiver 34 of the telephone exchange 12 receives the digital audio signals from terminal 14a via the antenna 36 and then the central processing circuit 30 operates the audio exchange module 60 to perform processes of the KTS. After being converted into analog audio signals through the D / A converter 50 of the audio processing circuit 42, the signals are sent to the external telephone system 23 through the audio transmission port 44 and the main line 22.

Network Signal Transmission

Consider figures 1, 2 and 3. When computer 16a sends data to computer 16b, telephone exchange 12 will operate network exchange module 48 to establish a network between computer 16a and 16b, ie a local area network. More specifically, the computer 16a converts the data into network I signals through the network interface 20a. The terminal 14a receives the network signals through network port 68 and then further transmits the network signals to the central processing circuit 60 through the network control unit 66. The network signals are then transmitted via the wireless transceiver 62 and the I antenna 64 using wireless transmission to telephone exchange 12. After the wireless transceiver I 34 of the telephone exchange 12 receives the network signals from -or *, Η II 11 connection 14a via antenna 36, the central processing circuit 30 will enter the network exchange module 48 in to operate. The module instructs the wireless transceiver 34 to transmit the network signals through the antenna 36 to each terminal 14. The wireless transceiver 62 from each terminal 14 will receive the network signals, and the central processing circuit 60 will deliver them to the network port 68 through the network controller 66. Since the network signals comprise network address information, only the network interface 20b of computer from computer 16b can successfully receive the network signals and convert them back into correct data. Finally, the transmission of data in the opposite direction, i.e. from computer 16 to external network system 25, can be done in the same way.

In an actual example, the network control unit 38 of the telephone exchange 12 and the network control device 66 of connection 14 may be "network repeaters" which must divert the network signal without distorting it. The telephone exchange 12 and the connection 14 together form a wireless hub structure. Here, the connections 14 can be considered as the ports of the hub. All ports are wirelessly connected to the telephone exchange 12, and network exchange module 48 is used by the telephone exchange 12 to communicate with these ports.

The network port 40 connected to the network controller 38 can be considered as an up-link link, which can be used to connect an external network system through a switch or a hub. Further, the standard of the signal sent through the network controller 38 of the telephone exchange 12 and the network controller 66 of the terminal 14 is compatible with the IEEE 802.3 standard defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Electronic Engi- 1021749 I ners - IEEE). The connection standard of network port I 40 of telephone exchange 12 and network port 68 of connection 40 is compatible with that of 10base-T, for example I RJ-45. Any other connection standard that requires the network system mentioned above can be used within the scope of this invention.

In summary, the transmission of the audio and network signals between the telephone exchange 12 and the connection 14 are achieved by wireless transmission. The signal transmission standard of the wireless transceiver 34 of the telephone exchange 12 and the wireless I transceiver 62 of the connection 14 is compatible with the IEEE 802.3 defined by IEEE or other standards, for example H blue tooth or infrared transmission standard. To be able to work in future broadband environments, coding techniques such as Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) or Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) can also be used by the wireless transmission of the telephone exchange 12 and the wireless transceiver 62 of I 2 0 connection 14 for the transmission of audio and network I signals. The applications mentioned above or any other broadband mechanism should also be considered within the scope of this invention.

Compared with conventional technology, the wireless digital extension number system according to the present invention is able to integrate audio communication and I network communication using the digital exchange system within the telephone center 12. Users can communicate using user interface. one connection of the wireless digital key I telephone system in the present invention with other I connections of the same system, or with an external I telephone system connected to the wireless digital redial number system. In addition, the wireless redial number system in the present invention can set up a telephone system and a local area network (LAN) H at the same time.

I 1 021 7/1 α - 13

The LAN system is constructed in the form of a hub structure which combines the telephone exchange 12 and the connection 14. Each connection 14 can be considered as a port connected to the computer 16, 5 and the transmission of network signals between the ports is controlled via the telephone exchange 12. Therefore, the present invention supports the function of both a telephone system and a network system with a considerable saving of the costs. Moreover, in wireless 10 digital extension number assemblies according to the present invention, the communication between the telephone exchange 12 and the terminal 14 is done through wireless transmission, which of course means that wiring is not necessary. This also provides a cost advantage and convenience for possible future changes.

1 0217 4 9

Claims (10)

A wireless telephone system comprising a telephone exchange and at least one connection, the at least one connection comprising: a first central processing circuit for controlling the operation of the connection; a first audio processing circuit which is electronically connected to the first central processing circuit, a speaker and a microphone for transmitting audio signals received by the microphone 10 to the first central processing unit; a first network control unit which is electronically connected between the first central processing circuit and a first network port for forwarding network signal output from the first central processing circuit to the first network port and forwarding network signals received by the first network port to the first central processing circuit; and I a first transceiver that is electronically connected to the first central processing circuit I for wirelessly transmitting and receiving the network I and audio signals through a first antenna; wherein the telephone exchange comprises: I a second central processing circuit for controlling the operation of the telephone exchange; H is a memory device which is electronically connected to the second central processing circuit 30 for storing programs and data; a network exchange module stored in the H-30 memory device for processing the transmission of network signals between the telephone exchange and the connection; an audio central module stored in the I / O 7. memory device for processing the transmission of the audio signals between the telephone exchange and the connection; and a second transceiver that is electronically connected to the second central processing circuit for wirelessly transmitting and receiving network and audio signals through a second antenna; wherein the network signals from the first network port and the audio signals from the microphone received are sent by the terminal through the first transceiver to the second transceiver from the telephone exchange, the network exchange module and the audio exchange module processing the network signals and audio signals and then transmitting and then transmitting the network signals and audio signals to the first transceiver of the at least one terminal through the second transceiver to cause the at least one terminal to output the network signals and audio signals from the speaker and the first network port. 2. The telephone system according to claim 1, wherein the telephone exchange further comprises: a second network control unit that is electronically connected between the second central processing circuit and a second network port, the second network control unit being arranged for transmitting network signal output from the second central processing circuit to the second network port, and sending network signals received through the second network port to the second central processing circuit. 3. The telephone system according to claim 2, wherein the first audio processing circuit of the connection comprises: a digital-to-analog converter for converting the digital audio signal output from the first central processing circuit into corresponding analog audio signals; and an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog audio signals received from the I microphone into the corresponding digital audio signals. The telephone system according to claim 3, wherein the telephone exchange further comprises a second audio processing circuit which is electronically connected to the second central processing circuit and a transmission port for transmitting the audio signal output from the second central processing circuit to the B transmission port or forwarding the audio signals B 10 received from the transmission port to the second central B processing circuit; B wherein the second audio processing circuit B further comprises: B a digital-to-analog converter for B converting digital audio signal output from the second B central processing circuit into corresponding analog B audio signals; and B an analog-to-digital converter for B converting analog audio signals received from the B 20 transmission port into corresponding digital audio signals B. 5. The telephone system of claim 4, B wherein the signal transmission in the first network controller, the second network controller, the B first transceiver and the second transceiver all conform to the IEEE 802.3 communication protocol defined by B the IEEE (Institute or Electrical and Electronic Engineers, B IEEE). The telephone system of claim 4, B 30 wherein the second network port is part of the telephone exchange and the first network port of the at least B one connection are all of the media type, 10base-T. The telephone system of claim 4, B wherein the second network control unit of the telephone connection and the first network control unit of B the connection are all network regenerators ('repeaters') B for switching through the network signals. B i n o 1 “Γ 8. The telephone system according to claim 4, wherein the second transceiver of the telephone exchange and the first transceiver of the connection (forward audio and network signals by means of 'direct sequence spread spectrum' (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum, DSSS). 9. The telephone system according to claim 4, wherein the second transceiver of the telephone exchange and the first transceiver of the connection transmit audio and network signals by means of 'code-division multiple access' (Code-Division Multiple Access, CDMA). The telephone system of claim 1, wherein the first network port is of the at least one connection for electrically connecting to a computer system. 15 -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-pvE / MB i 0 l i / 4 d