`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page1of21 PagelD 73
`
`
`EXHIBIT C
`EXHIBIT C
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 2 of 21 PageID 74
`
`
`
`11111111111111101111111111psIJOil!!!!1111111111111111111111111
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Suder et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,123,699 B2
`Oct. 17, 2006
`
`(54) VOICE MAIL IN A VOICE OVER IP
`TELEPHONE SYSTEM
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Eric G. Suder, Plano, TX (US);
`Harold E. A. Hansen, II, Plano, TX
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Estech Systems, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 378 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/210,902
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Aug. 2, 2002
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2004/0022373 Al
`
`Feb. 5, 2004
`
` 379/67.1,
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`379/69, 70, 74, 77, 84, 85, 88.11, 88.12, 88.13,
`379/88.16, 88.17, 88.18, 88.19, 88.22, 88.25,
`379/93.01, 93.26, 201.01, 207.02, 220.01,
`379/229, 265.01, 265.09; 370/351, 352,
`370/431, 437, 464, 456
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,819,005 A * 10/1998 Daly et al.
`5,946,386 A *
`8/1999 Rogers et al.
`6,317,485 Bl* 11/2001 Homan et al.
`6,529,500 Bl* 3/2003 Pandharipande
`6,584,490 Bl* 6/2003 Schuster et al.
`6,647,109 Bl* 11/2003 Henderson
`6,757,363 Bl* 6/2004 Platt et al.
`6,823,047 Bl* 11/2004 Cruickshank
`* cited by examiner
`
`704/200
`379/265.09
`379/88.12
`370/352
`709/200
`379/220.01
`379/88.11
`379/88.18
`
`Primary Examiner Ovidio Escalante
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Winstead Sechrest &
`Minick; Kelly K. Kordzik
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/775,018,
`filed on Feb. 1, 2001.
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`H04M 11/00
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`
`(2006.01)
` 379/88.18; 379/88.17;
`379/88.22; 379/93.01
`
`In a voice over IP system, an IP telephone includes an LED
`lamp that indicates a voice message has been stored in a
`remote voice mail system. The IP telephone can then access
`that voice message. The message can also be moved from
`one remote site to another.
`
`5 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`TCP/IP
`WAN
`
`• PRIVATE DATA
`NETWORK
`
`• VPN
`
`• PUBLIC INTERNET
`
`305
`
`><
`
`ROUTER
`
`306
`
`IP
`SERVER
`
`CO
`LINES
`
`HUB
`
`-307
`
`201
`
`IP
`TELEPHONE
`
`-308
`
`CO
`LINES
`
`IP
`SERVER
`
`-101
`
`>-<
`ROUTER
`
`
`304
`
`1'5
`
`IP
`TELEPHONE
`
`•
`•
`:103
`•
`
`HUB
`
`WORKSTATION
`PC
`
`104
`
`106
`
`DATA
`SERVER
`
`DALLAS
`
`301
`
`303-
`
`DSL OR
`MODEM
`
`310
`
`TELECOMMUTER'S
`HOME
`TO OTHER IP 43
`NAT ROUTER/
`PHONES
`-a
`HUB
`AND/OR PCS
`J
`(OPTIONAL)
`(.)
`
`-43
`
`4 4-X
`
`'311
`
`313
`
`WORKSTATION
`PC
`
`-309
`
`DETROIT
`
`302
`
`PC
`
`D- 415
`O C
`-312
`
`IP
`TELEPHONE
`
`REMOTE
`PHONE
`
`
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 3 of 21 PageID 75
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 17, 2006
`
`Sheet 1 of 12
`
`US 7,123,699 B2
`
`DATA
`
`PC
`
`106
`
`105
`
`VOICE\
`
`HUB
`
`SERVER
`
`103
`
`104
`
`Fig. 1
`
`IP SERVER
`
`101
`
`CO
`
`102
`
`IP SERVER
`
`101
`
`IP SERVER
`
`202
`
`TCP/IP
`NETWORK
`
`201
`
`Fig. 2
`
`
`
`lualud °S11
`
`Z1 JO Z WIN
`
`ZS 669`EZI'L Sfl
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 4 of 21 PageID 76
`
`CO
`LINES
`
`-101
`
`IP
`SERVER
`
`if,
`
`IP
`TELEPHONE
`t
`WORKSTATION
`PC
`
`301
`
`HUB
`
`DATA
`SERVER
`
`104
`
`-106
`DALLAS
`
`TCP/IP
`WAN
`
`• PRIVATE DATA
`NETWORK
`
`• VPN
`
`• PUBLIC INTERNET
`
`201
`
`•
`
`C)
`
`DSL OR
`MODEM
`
`-310
`
`< ",v305
`_41
`
`ROUTER
`••••..
` ...--/
`U
`
`306
`
`IP
`SERVER
`
`CO
`LINES
`
`HUB
`
`-307
`
`IP
`TELEPHONE
`
`-308
`
`WORKSTATION
`PC
`
`-309
`
`TELECOMMUTER'S
`HOME
`TO OTHER IP _a
`-9.
`PHONES
`AND/OR PCS
`-a
`(OPTIONAL)
`
`303-
`
`Fig. 3
`
`NAT ROUTER/
`HUB
`
`-311
`
`DETROIT
`
`0
`
`414? 313
`
`302
`
`PC
`
`D- 415
`D ' C.
`-312
`
`IP
`TELEPHONE
`
`REMOTE
`PHONE
`
`
`
`lualud •S11
`
`900Z 'LI WO
`
`Z1 .19 £ WIN
`
`ZS 669`EZI'L Sfl
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 5 of 21 PageID 77
`
`304'
`
`IP
`ROUTER
`
`3
`
`■ WIDE AREA
`NETWORK
`
`401
`
`MAIN
`BOARD
`
`409
`
`402
`
`IP NETWORK
`CARD
`
`416
`„,
`412
`
`411
`
`POWER
`PACK
`
`'407
`
`IDE
`HDD
`
`403
`
`410
`
`BACKPLANE
`(10 SLOTS)
`
`3
`3
`3
`
`405
`PERIPHERAL
`(P-CARDS)
`
`4041
`
`1 20VAC
`
`301Y
`
`Fig. 4
`
`406
`ANALOG
`TELEPHONE
`
`103
`
`413-
`n
`ETHERNET
`HUB
`
`201
`
`414
`
`CO
`
`• CO
`• CO/ANALOG
`•T1
`
`105
`FAST
`ETHERNET
`TELEPHONE
`
`415
`
`WORKSTATION
`
`106
`
`
`
`lualud °S11
`
`ZI JO 17 PagS
`
`ZS 669`EZI'L Sfl
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 6 of 21 PageID 78
`
`402
`
`501
`
`410
`
`I/O
`
`DE HDD
`CONNECTION
`FROM M.B.
`-
`
`A-
`
`503
`
`ECP
`
`DRAM
`
`504
`
`Fig. 5
`
`DSP FARM EXPANSION CONNECTOR
`
`505
`
`DSP
`
`DSP
`
`'50
`
`502
`
`507
`
`'510
`
`5(18
`
`51A,
`
`513
`
`517
`
`515
`10/100
`MAC/
`PHY
`
`FPGA
`
`PCI
`BUS
`
`516
`
`d 10/100
`
`MAC/
`PHY
`
`416
`
`DIGITAL
`CROSSPOI NT
`SWITCH
`
`/5 509
`
`409'
`
`SYSTEM
`HIGHWAYS
`
`CONNECTORS
`
`-511
`
`SRAM
`
`BACKPLANE
`404
`
`PCARD 0
`405 PCARD L
`L 405
`
`512
`
`I/O
`AND
`BUFFERS
`
`"411
`
`
`
`lualud •S11
`
`900Z 'LI WO
`
`Z1 Jo S WIN
`
`ZS 669`EZI'L Sfl
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 7 of 21 PageID 79
`
`60..?
`
`MULTI-DROP
`ASYNC COMM LINK
`
`61e
`
`611
`
`MODEM
`
`CODEC
`
`602
`
`HARD DISK
`
`607
`
`603
`
`604
`
`MICRO-
`PROCESSOR
`
`601
`
`05
`
`WATCH-
`DOG
`
`REAL-TIME
`CLOCK
`
`FLASH
`MEM
`
`606
`
`(
`
`DRAM
`
`613--r =c—7 -1
`
`612\
`
`615
`
`GATE
`
`ARRAY 5r6,4
`
`-608
`
`DSP
`
`616
`-Y--L-
`DIGITAL
`CROSS-
`POINT
`MATRIX
`//‘
`5,7409
`
`
`
`618
`
`619 — DSLAC
`
`CODEC
`
`-622
`
`2.048 TIME SLOT
`MHZ COUNTER
`FRAME
`SYNC
`
`617
`
`620-
`
`ANALOG
`PORT
`#1
`
`621-
`
`ANALOG
`PORT
`#2
`
`agar' I I
`
`MUSIC 623
`
`SWITCHING
`
`POWER
` -
`SUPPLY
`40
`7
`
`24 VAC
`75 VA
`
`+5V/3A
`+12V/1A
`-5V/.5A
`
`401
`
`Fig. 6
`
`
`
`lualud °S11
`
`Z1 .19 9 WIN
`
`ZS 669`EZI'L Sfl
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 8 of 21 PageID 80
`
`.g,...-- 405
`
`701
`--I
`
`M ICROCONTROLLER
`(ECP)
`
`BUSSES
`/
`
`702
`
`DSP
`
`TDM
`,/
`
`CODECS
`
`-.C.--1.-
`
`/TDM
`
`705
`
`DIGITAL
`CROSSPOI NT
`SWITCH
`
`703-
`
`512KB
`DRAM
`
`7411
`\/
`SYSTEM SPEECH/
`CONTROL HIGHWAYS
`TO/FROM CARD 402
`
`704
`
`BUFFERS
`
`TIMING
`
`708-
`
`709-
`
`i
`706
`
`CODECS
`
`707
`
`Fig. 7
`
`LOOP
`START
`CO
`INTERFACES
`
`ANALOG
`TELEPHONE
`INTERFACES
`
`ID
`D
`D
`
`CO
`
`ANALOG
`PHONES
`406
`
`n
`
`SYSTEM TIMING
`FROM CARD 402
`
`
`
`lualud °S11
`
`ZI JO L WIN
`
`ZS 669`EZI'L Sfl
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 9 of 21 PageID 81
`
`4,-105
`
`ETHERNET
`
`D 415
`
`415
`R
`j45
`WORKSTATION
`
`ETHERNET
`
` ID 414
`
`
`
`/
`
`C 1 >
`'816
`R.145
`NETWORK
`
`PERIPHERAL
`(I.E. DSS CONSOLE)
`813
`10/100
`MAC/
`PHY
`
`812
`
`
`
`D8
`
`11
`
`PCI
`BUS
`<
`
`814
`
`_1 10/100
`
`MAC/
`PHY
`
`-810
`
`LCD
`DISPLAY
`
`895
`
`892
`
`FPGA
`
` >
`
`PCI
`BRIDGE/
`LAYER 2
`SWITCH
`
`-806
`
`817
`
`HANDSET
`
`CODEC
`
`818
`
`POWER
`SUPPLY
`
`81
`
`CODEC
`
`
`
`AMP
`
`820
`
`HANDSFREE
`SPEAKER
`821
`rA mic
`-11-822
`
`823
`
`POWER
`REG.
`
`+5V
`+3.3V
`+1.8V
`
`Fig. 8
`
`809-
`
`>
`
`I/0
`3
`DSP
`
`801
`
`/
`KEYBOARD
`807
`I I
`LEDS
`808
`
`FLASH
`803
`
`SRAM
`804
`
`<
`<
`
`
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 10 of 21 PageID 82
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 17, 2006
`
`Sheet 8 of 12
`
`US 7,123,699 B2
`
`1301
`
`DTMF
`RECEIVERS
`
`-DT
`-BT/ROT
`-RBT
`-SINGLE TONES
`-DTMF SENDERS
`
`o
`
`1307
`
`CALL
`PROCESSING
`TONE GEN.
`
`1302
`
`1303
`
`1308
`
`AUTOMATIC
`GAIN CONTROL
`
`RECORDING
`BUFFERS
`
`PLAY BUFFERS
`
`-1304
`
`FAX TONE
`DET.
`
`1305
`
`CALLER ID
`MODEMS
`
`Fig. 9
`
`-1306
`
`CONFERENCE
`BRIDGES
`
`
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 11 of 21 PageID 83
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 17, 2006
`
`Sheet 9 of 12
`
`US 7,123,699 B2
`
`VOICE MESSAGE
`RECEIVED IN
`VOICE MAILBOX
`
`-1001
`
`-1002
`
`DETERMINE WHICH
`EXTENSIONS ARE
`ASSOCIATED WITH
`VOICE MAILBOX
`
`IF AN EXTENSION IS
`REMOTE TO VOICE
`MAILBOX, THEN SEND
`LED MESSAGE TO
`REMOTE EXTENSION
`
`-1003
`
`FIG. 11
`
`-1004
`
`Fig. 10
`
`
`
`lualud •S11
`
`900Z 'LI •APO
`
`Z1 Jo 01 WIN
`
`ZS 669`EZI'L Sfl
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 12 of 21 PageID 84
`
`SITE®
`
`SITE C)
`
`• UPDATE
`VMB LED
`
`;SES
`• USER PRE
`VMB KEY
`
`• CONNEC
`AUDIO
`PATH
`
`• INPUT VM
`OPTIONS
`
`• RELEASE
`
`•TEAR-DO
`IN
`
`CONNECT ION
`
`'
`
`LED MESSAGE (VIRTUAL MAILBOX)
`
`1101
`
`?..
`ESTABLISH_USER_MBX.CONNECTION ( CH, SPC ERT, DET MBX)
`1102
`1103
`
`CONNECTION ESTABLISHED (CH)
`
`1104
`
`lips
`
`1106
`
`KEY PRESSES
`
`REMOVE MSG W/ACK (CHANNEL)
`
`REMOVE ACK
`
`Fig. 11
`
`SSIGN VOICE
`HANNEL
`
`I
`•
`PLAY VM USER
`PROMPTS
`
`•
`DECODE KEY
`PRESSES
`
`EAR-DOWN VM
`ONNECTION
`
`1
`
`•
`SEND ACK
`
`
`
`lualud °S11
`
`ZI Jo II WIN
`
`ZS 669`EZI'L Sfl
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 13 of 21 PageID 85
`
`SITE
`
`• USER PRES
`SES
`VMB KEY
`+DSS TO
`
`
`CHECK M 3GS
`
`• CONNE(
`AUDIO
`
`• INPUT VI
`OPTIONS
`
`• RELEASE
`
`•TEAR-DO
`
`/N
`
`SITE
`
`ESTABLISH_USER_MBY. CONNECTION (MBX)
`ESTABLISH_USER_MBX. CONNECTION (MBX)
`
`CONNECTION ESTABLISHED
`
`1201
`
`12p2
`
`SSIGN VOICE
`HANNEL
`
`.
`PLAY VM PROMPT
`
`KEY PRESSES
`
`REMOVE MSG W/ACK
`
`REMOVE ACK
`
`Fig. 12
`
`1203
`I
`
`_
`
`.
`
`DECODE KEY
`PRESSES
`
`12,04
`
`ups-
`
`EAR-DOWN VM
`I
`ONNECTION
`
`3"'
`
`SEND ACK
`
`
`
`lualud °S11
`
`R r,
`
`,—,
`n.)
`©
`g
`
`Z1 Jo Z1 WIN
`
`ZS 669`EZI'L Sfl
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 14 of 21 PageID 86
`
`SITE
`
`SITE
`
`• MSG HAS
`BEEN
`TAGGED T
`MOVE
`• START
`STREAMIN
`DATA
`
`)
`
`3
`
`• XFER
`COMPLETE
`SIGNAL
`REMOTE
`
`• TEAR-DOW
`N
`
`CONNECTI ON
`
`ESTABLISH VMMOVE.CONNECTION (MBX) 1301
`
`CONNECTION ESTABLISHED
`
`VOICE DATA
`
`REMOVE MSG W/ACK (CH)
`
`REMOVE ACK
`
`Fig. 13
`
`1.3102
`
`1303
`i
`
`1304
`
`1305
`
`
`
`• , , .....
`
`SSIGN
`NCOMPRESSED
`OICE CHANNEL
`
`• •
`
`OICE MAIL
`YSTEM HAS
`ASSIGNED NEW
`M MSG SLOT
`
`VM MSG
`RECORDING
`
`
`
`'
`
`•
`•
`
`CLOSE VM FILE
`UPDATE DATA
`STRUCTURE
`
`END ACK
`
`
`
`Case 3:23-cv-02828-K Document 1-3 Filed 12/21/23 Page 15 of 21 PageID 87
`
`1
`VOICE MAIL IN A VOICE OVER IP
`TELEPHONE SYSTEM
`
`US 7,123,699 B2
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part application of
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/775,018, filed Feb. 1,
`2001.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates in general to information
`processing systems, and in particular, to the use of Voice
`over IP technology to transmit voice conversations.
`
`BACKGROUND INFORMATION
`
`Voice over IP ("VoIP") is a relatively recent development
`that is utilized to transmit voice conversations over a data
`network using the Internet Protocol ("IP"). Internet Protocol
`is a part of the TCP/IP family of protocols described in
`software that tracks the Internet address of nodes, routes
`outgoing messages, and recognizes incoming messages.
`Such a data network may be the Internet or a corporate
`intranet, or any TCP/IP network. There are several potential
`benefits for moving voice over a data network using IP. First,
`there is a savings in money compared to the need to use
`traditional tolled telecommunications networks. Addition-
`ally, Voice over IP enables the management of voice and data
`over a single network. And, with the use of IP phones,
`moves, adds and changes are easier and less expensive to
`implement. Moreover, additional and integrated new ser-
`vices,
`including
`integrated messaging, bandwidth on
`demand, voice e-mails, the development of "voice portals"
`on the Web, simplified setting up and tearing down, and
`transferring of phone calls are capable.
`Using Voice over IP technology, phone systems can
`communicate with each other over existing TCP/IP data
`networks typically present between remote offices. This
`feature alone can eliminate the need for expensive, dedicated
`circuits between facilities. The shared bandwidth can also be
`used for voice calls and data communication simulta-
`neously; no bandwidth is dedicated to one or the other.
`Another advantage of a Voice over IP system is the ability
`to implement a phone system over an existing data network
`that is already connecting workstations within a local area
`network, such as over an Ethernet. An Ethernet operates
`over twisted wire and over coaxial cable for connecting
`computers, printers, workstations, terminals, servers, etc.,
`within the same building or a campus. The Ethernet utilizes
`frame packets for transmitting information. Voice over IP
`can utilize such packet switching capabilities to connect IP
`phones onto the Ethernet.
`Traditional voice mail systems within a wide area network
`possess limitations that reduce their effectiveness. For
`example, such telephone systems typically need to have
`either a centralized voice mail system that has to be accessed
`remotely, or separate and distinct voice mail systems within
`each location with only a limited ability to share informa-
`tion. What is desired is a telephone system having voice mail
`functionality that is essentially transparent to the location of
`the user.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`For a more complete understanding of the present inven-
`tion, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to
`the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the
`accompanying drawings, in which:
`
`5
`
`2
`FIG. 1 illustrates an information processing system;
`FIG. 2 illustrates a wide area network ("WAN");
`FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a wide area
`network configuration;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a configuration of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a network card;
`FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of main processing
`board;
`FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a peripheral card;
`FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of a telephony device;
`FIG. 9 illustrates functions implemented in the processing
`means of the main board;
`FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram of storage of a voice
`15 message;
`FIG. 11 illustrates a message flow over a WAN;
`FIG. 12 illustrates another message flow over a WAN; and
`FIG. 13 illustrates another message flow over a WAN.
`
`10
`
`20
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`40
`
`In the following description, numerous specific details are
`set forth such as specific network configurations, network
`devices, types of multimedia traffic, etc. to provide a thor-
`25 ough understanding of the present invention. However, it
`will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present
`invention may be practiced without such specific details. In
`other instances, well-known circuits have been shown in
`block diagram form in order not to obscure the present
`30 invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details
`concerning timing considerations and the like have been
`omitted in as much as such details are not necessary to
`obtain a complete understanding of the present invention
`and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the
`35 relevant art.
`Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are
`not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar
`elements are designated by the same reference numeral
`through the several views.
`FIG. 1 illustrates an information processing system con-
`figured in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 1
`essentially illustrates a local area network ("LAN"), which
`in one configuration could be implemented with an Ethernet
`protocol. However, the present invention is not limited to
`45 use with any particular data transfer protocol. Workstation
`PC 106, network hub 103 and server 104 coupled to each
`other illustrate a typical LAN configuration where data is
`communicated between the workstation 106 and the server
`104. Naturally, other workstations and servers could also be
`so coupled to the LAN through hub 103, including the use of
`additional hubs. Hub 103 may be a 10 Base T or 10/100 Base
`T Ethernet hub. In an alternative embodiment, the hub 103
`and server 104 may be implemented in the same data
`processing system. Herein, the term "workstation" can refer
`55 to any network device that can either receive data from a
`network, transmit data to a network, or both.
`To add in the voice communication capabilities, an IP
`multimedia server 101 is coupled to hub 103 and an IP
`telephony device 105 is connected between the workstation
`60 106 and the hub 103. Workstation 106 may be optional. The
`IP multimedia server 101 is coupled to a central office
`("CO") 102 so that telephony device 105 can communicate
`to other telecommunications networks, such as the public
`switched telephone network ("PSTN"). Naturally, additional
`65 IP telephony devices 105 can be coupled to hub 103,
`including having workstations coupled to hub 103 through
`such IP telephony devices. Further details on multimedia
`
`
`
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`3
`server 101 and IP telephony device 105 are described below.
`An IP telephone, or telephony device, is any apparatus,
`device, system, etc., that can communicate multimedia traf-
`fic using IP telephony technology. IP telephony is defined
`within Newton's Telecom Dictionary, Harry Newton, Six-
`teenth Edition, page 454, which is hereby incorporated by
`reference herein. Information, or data, on the network
`includes both the voice and data information, and any other
`multimedia traffic.
`FIG. 2 illustrates how the information processing system
`of the present invention as noted above with respect to FIG.
`1 can be implemented across a wide area network ("WAN")
`201 where the multimedia server 101 of FIG. 1 is coupled
`to another multimedia server 202 across LAN 201. Note that
`the other items described above in FIG. 1 have been omitted
`in FIG. 2 for the sake of simplicity.
`FIG. 3 illustrates further detail of a configuration of the
`present invention over a WAN 201. Note that such a WAN
`may implement the TCP/IP protocol, and could be a public
`WAN, such as the Internet, a private data network, an
`intranet, or a Virtual Private Network ("VPN"). The present
`invention is not to be limited to TCP/IP, but is applicable to
`any routable network protocol (e.g., UDP).
`FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary system where WAN 201
`couples an information processing system 301 in Dallas,
`Tex. to another information processing system 302 in
`Detroit, Mich., while also permitting a remote system 303 to
`couple to both systems 301 and 302 through WAN 201, such
`as from a telecommuter's home.
`System 301 is similar to the system described above with
`respect to FIG. 1. System 301 is coupled to WAN 201
`through router 304.
`System 302 is similar to system 301 with the exception
`that a data server is not implemented within system 302.
`Router 305 is similar to router 304, multimedia server 306
`is similar to multimedia server 101, hub 307 is similar to hub
`103, IP telephony device 308 is similar to IP telephony
`device 105, and workstation 309 is similar to workstation
`106.
`Remote system 303 is coupled to WAN 201 using a
`modem 310, such as a cable modem or an ADSL (asym-
`metric digital subscriber line) modem. A NAT (Network
`Address Translation) router/hub 311 then couples a work-
`station PC 312 and an IP telephony device 313 to the modem
`310. Not only can data be transferred across WAN 201
`between systems 301-303, but also any one of telephony
`devices 105, 308 and 313 can communicate with each other
`and with the PSTN (not shown) over CO lines coupled to
`either of systems 301 and 302.
`FIG. 4 illustrates further details of system 301. As noted
`above, system 301 is coupled to WAN 201 through IP router
`304, which is coupled by line 413 to Ethernet hub 103.
`Ethernet hub 103 is connected by line 414 to fast Ethernet
`telephony device 105, which is coupled by line 415 to
`workstation 106. Ethernet hub 103 is coupled to LP network
`card 402 by connection 416, which may be a 10/100 Base T
`connector.
`Multimedia server 101 is comprised of main board 401,
`network card 402, hard drive 403, backplane 404 and
`peripheral cards 405. Network card 402 is further discussed
`below in more detail with respect to FIG. 5. Network card
`402 is coupled by ribbon cable 409 to main board 401, which
`is further described below in more detail with respect to FIG.
`6. Multimedia server 101 is powered through power pack
`407. IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) HDD (hard disk
`drive) 403 is coupled by ribbon cable 410 to network card
`402 and main board 401, while network card 402 is coupled
`
`4
`to backplane 404 through ribbon cable 411. Backplane 404
`provides capacity for several peripheral cards (P-cards) 405,
`which are of a typical configuration for enabling a telephone
`system to connect to a central office (CO), T1 lines, analog
`5 central office trunks and analog telephones 406. Alterna-
`tively, ribbon cable 411 could be coupled to one of the
`peripheral cards 405 directly.
`Referring next to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a block
`diagram of network card 402. Network card 402 is respon-
`1 o Bible for communicating with all IP telephones, remote
`telephones and remote sites via a 10/100 Base T connection.
`The higher-level communication protocol used may be a
`standard UDP/IP (User Datagram Protocol/Internet Proto-
`col) protocol, or any other packet switching protocol. In
`15 addition, network card 402 communicates with the main
`board 401 for overall system control. Network card 402 has
`effectively replaced individual electronic key telephone cir-
`cuits with a single Ethernet interface, and network card 402
`now acts as the central distribution point for all peripheral
`20 cards 405, which can plug into backplane 404.
`Ribbon cable 410 from hard drive 403 is received at I/O
`501 coupled to bus 502. Bus 502 is coupled to ECP
`(Enhanced Call Processing) microcontroller 503, DRAM
`504, DSPs 505 and 506, DSP farm expansion connector 507,
`25 digital cross-point switch 509, and I/O and buffers 512. ECP
`503 is a microcontroller responsible for overall communi-
`cations between network card 402 and main board 401. ECP
`503 directly interfaces the DSPs 505, 506 via the host port
`interface. The host port interface is a parallel (8 bit) interface
`30 between the DSPs and the host processor. This interface can
`be used to directly manipulate the DSP memory by a host
`processor. I/O 501 is a mail box type parallel communication
`channel, which is multiplexed between communication with
`the IDE disk drive 403 and I/O 501 allowing direct control
`35 for functions such as firmware download and message
`passing. ECP 503 is based on a 16-bit Hitachi H8 family
`processor with built-in flash memory.
`DSPs 505 and 506 can be implemented using Texas
`Instrument 5410 DSPs that perform packet encoding/decod-
`40 ing, jitter buffer management and UDP/IP protocol stacked
`functions. DSPs 505, 506 are connected to an external
`SRAM 511 and ASIC (FPGA) 513 that performs a PCI
`bridge function between bus 508 and bus 514, which is
`coupled to connectors 517 and 416 via 10/100 MAC/PHY
`45 devices 515 and 516. DSPs 505, 506 communicate with
`peripherals 405 via bus 502. DSP firmware is downloaded
`via the host port interface 501. I/O 501 allows communica-
`tion with the main board 401 and the hard drive 403.
`Additionally, EPC 503 can directly control a daughter card
`so containing additional DSPs through expansion connector
`507 for functions such as speech compression.
`Digital cross-point switch 509 is used to connect system
`voice conversations as needed between peripherals. Main
`board 401 houses the master cross-points with 616 discussed
`55 below with respect to FIG. 6. The peripheral cards 405 share
`a pool of 160 time slots. Cross-point switch 509 is primarily
`responsible for connecting the packet-switched voice con-
`nections of the IP telephones or remote systems to the circuit
`switchboard. The FPGA/PCI bridge 513 performs the func-
`60 tions required to connect the 10/100 Base T Ethernet MAC/
`PHY devices 515, 516. Since devices 515, 516 are designed
`to communicate via a standard PCI bus 514, the FPGA 513
`implements a minimal PCI bus implementation. In addition,
`the FPGA 513 implements I/O latches and buffers as
`65 required.
`The 10/100 Base T devices 515, 516 are stand-alone
`Ethernet devices, which perform the media access control
`
`
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`6
`
`5
`("MAC") and the PHYsical layer functions in a single,
`low-cost chip. Devices 515, 516 communicate to the host
`processor via a standard PCI bus 514, and communicate to
`the network via a pulse transformer coupled RJ-45 connec-
`tion 517, 416. These devices contain FIFOs to minimize lost
`packets during traffic peaks. Per the PCI bus mastering
`specification, devices 515, 516 take control of the DSP bus
`and DMA data directly to SRAM 511. Conversely, the DSP
`505, 506 writes data to be sent into the SRAM 511 and the
`devices 515, 516 DMA data via the PCI bus 514 to the
`network (LAN).
`Referring next to FIG. 6, there is illustrated, in block
`diagram form, main board 401 for integrating call process-
`ing and voice processing using a single processing means,
`which in this example is one microprocessor 601. Micro-
`processor 601, which may be a Motorola 68000 class
`microprocessor, communicates with hard disk 607 using
`driver circuitry 602. Hard disk 607 stores program data,
`voice prompts, voice mail messages, and all other types of
`speech used within main board 401. Microprocessor 601
`also includes watchdog timer 603 and real-time clock source
`604.
`Microprocessor 601 is coupled via bus 608 to flash
`memory 605 and dynamic random access memory
`("DRAM") 606. Flash memory 605 is used to store boot-
`strap data for use during power up of main board 401.
`DRAM 606 stores the program accessed by microprocessor
`601 during operation of main board 401.
`Bus 608 also couples microprocessor 601 to signal pro-
`cessing circuitry, which in this example is digital signal
`processor ("DSP") 615. Digital signal processor 615 imple-
`ments a number of functions traditionally implemented by
`discrete analog components.
`Referring next to FIG. 9, there are illustrated some of the
`primary functions implemented in DSP 615. DTMF receiv-
`ers 1301 are implemented using frequency domain filtering
`techniques. DTMF receivers 1301 detect all 16 standard
`DTMF (touch-tone) digits.
`Automatic gain control ("AGC") 1302 is a closed-loop
`gain control system which normalizes received audio levels
`during recording.
`Recording buffers 1303, which are coupled to AGC 1302,
`receive and store speech samples after they have passed
`through AGC block 1302. These speech samples are con-
`verted to 1,t-law PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) and double
`buffered (several samples per buffer). Microprocessor 601
`copies the record data out of DSP buffers 1303 into RAM
`buffers (not shown), which are located in the microprocessor
`601 data RAM area.
`Fax tone detector 1304 is implemented using frequency
`domain filtering techniques. Fax tone detector 1304 detects
`the standard 1100 Hz FAX CNG tone (also referred to as the
`Calling Tone).
`Caller ID modems 1305 are 1200 baud FSK modems
`similar to Bell 202-type modems. Caller ID modems 1305
`are implemented as a frequency discriminator where a time
`delayed (quadrature) signal is multiplied by the original
`signal, low pass filtered, then sliced, which produce the
`square wave caller ID data stream.
`Call processing tone generators 1307 are free running
`oscillators which generate the appropriate tones (and tone
`pairs) which make up the industry standard call processing
`tones. These tones include:
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`dial tone
`busy/reorder tone
`ring back tone
`single frequency (440 Hz) tone
`DTMF dialer tones
`Play buffers 1308 replay data from hard disk 607 through
`microprocessor 601 and place this play data in buffers 1308.
`This data is converted from an 8-bit
`PCM signal to
`14-bit linear data.
`Conference bridges 1306 allow multiple conference
`bridges to mix together conferees into a multi-party confer-
`ence. These conferees may be a mixture of inside and
`outside parties. A combination of "loudest speaker" and
`"summing" is utilized.
`DSP 615 communicates with microprocessor 601 via a
`host interface port ("HIP") via bus 608. The HIP link
`supports a command-based protocol, which is used to
`directly read or write DSP memory locations. DSP 615 is a
`RAM-based part and has its program downloaded from
`20 microprocessor 601. Once downloaded and running, micro-
`processor 601 (the host) polls for events or receives inter-
`rupts indicating that data is available. DSP 615 speech
`connections are made over an industry standard 32-time slot,
`2.048 megabits per second (Mb/s) digital serial link 618.
`25 Link 618 occupies one of the digital highways implemented
`by digital cross-point matrix 616. Each service of DSP 615
`occupies a single time slot. For example, DTMF receiver 1
`occupies time slot 0 while conference bridge circuit 12
`occupies time slot 31.
`30 Digital cross-point matrix 616 is also coupled to bus 608
`and operates to connect any voice path to any other voice
`path. Digital cross-point matrix 616 is a VLSI (Very Large
`Scale Integration) integrated circuit. An example of digital
`cross-point matrix 616 is manufactured by MITEL Semi-
`35 conductor Corporation as part No. 8980. Digital cross-point
`matrix 616 communicates with microprocessor 601 via a
`memory mapped input/output (I/O) scheme. A command/
`control protocol is used for communication between micro-
`processor 601 and digital cross-point matrix 616 via bus
`40 608. Cross-point matrix 616 is coupled by highway 618 to
`DSP 615. Cross-point matrix 616 is coupled to highway 617.
`Digital cross-point matrix 616 is capable of making 256
`simultaneous fully non-blocking connections. However, it
`may be upgraded by adding additional DSPs and/or cross-
`45 point matrices.
`Gate array 612 is an SRAM (Static Random Access
`Memory) based device. An example of gate array 612 is
`manufactured by XILINX. Gate array 612 is responsible for
`generating all system timing. A master clock signal is
`so provided by microprocessor 601 at 16.384 MHz. This clock
`signal is divided down to provide a number of phase
`coherent system clocks such as 4.096 MHz, 2.048 MHz and
`8 KHz (frame sync). In addition, a 5-bit time slot counter is
`implemented which allows all the system CODECs to detect
`55 the appropriate time slot to use (0-31). An additional divider
`chain is included to divide the system clock down to 20 Hz,
`which is used by the ringing generator power supply (not
`shown).
`Gate array 612 is downloaded at boot-up by system
`60 software. Gate array 612 is based on an SRAM architecture.
`That is, the internal fusible links commonly found in pro-
`grammable logic are actually stored in volatile SRAM.
`Because of this architecture, gate array 612 is downloaded
`after power-up. Also, note the added flexibility of being able
`65 to modify the logic by simply loading new system software.
`Because the device is SRAM-based, it loses its program-
`ming when power is removed.
`
`
`
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`7
`Bus 608 is also coupled to modem 610, which provides a
`capability of calling into system 401 on a remote basis to
`load additional programs, voice prompts, etc., or updates
`thereto, into hard disk 607. Modem 610 is coupled to
`coder/decoder ("CODEC") 611, which is coupled to high-
`way 617. This connection allows coupling of modem 610
`through cross-point matrix 616 to CO lines through bus 409
`to the p-cards described with respect to FIG. 5.
`Also coupled to highway 617 is dual subscriber line
`access chip (DSLAC) 619, which is well-known in the art,
`and which is coupled to analog ports 620 and 621, which
`provide an ability for system 401 to communicate to analog-
`type connections such as cordless telephones and fax
`machines.
`Highway 617 is also coupled to CODEC 622, which is
`coupled to transformer 623 to a music source, which pro-
`vides an ability to couple an external music source to a caller
`through cross-point matrix 616 for such things as providing
`the caller with music on hold.
`Power to system 401 is provided through switching power
`supply 407, which converts AC to the various DC supply
`voltages needed by circuitry within system 401.
`Referring next to FIG. 7, there is illustrated peripheral-
`card ("p-card") 405, which is coupled to main board 401.
`Main board 401 communicates with p-card 405 via system
`speech/control highways 411. This connection 411 is made
`to microcontroller 701 via digital crosspoint switch 705.
`P-card 405 provides interconnections between CO lines and
`analog phone lines to network card 402.
`Microcontroller 701 controls all the real-time functions
`associated with p-card 405. When p-card 405 is plugged into