Gateway having connection to voice and data networks

This invention relates to the field of communications over voice and data networks, the voice network being typically the Public Switched Telephone Network, and the data network being typically a computer network like the Internet.

The simultaneous transmission of voice and data via telephone networks and data networks allows the user of such a service to access the voice and data via a single line, such as an analog telephone line. At present, two computers equipped with Simultaneous Voice and Data (SVD) modems, can talk to one another using Simultaneous Voice and Data (SVD) modems with both voice and/or data modes. However, this facility is only point-to-point by which is meant that the voice and data connections exist only between the two said computers, connected via telephone lines.

There are different types of SVD modems available for use in this manner. These differences cause capability problems between SVD modems of different types.

Hence, a limitation of the prior art is that both SVD modems must have the same SVD equipment and protocols. The session can only be between two users (i.e., point-to-point).

Other voice and data services exist, such as Integrated Services Data Network (ISDN). This is an all digital link between two or more users through a central office switching location. This provides for both data and/or voice on separate logical (not physical) channels. Here, there is still only one user (originator, i.e., sender) however, the data and voice can be split to go to different locations (destinations, i.e., receiver.) This communication type is called point to multipoint.

ISDN has complicated protocols, and the central office switches require a unique infrastructure that supports ISDN and is not widely prevalent today. Accordingly, large scale global communications can not occur without significant and expensive modifications to the infrastructure.

Another class of voice and data services is known as Voice View (a trademark of the Radish Communications Corporation.) This system also provides point to point communication but does not support simultaneous voice and data transmission. Here simultaneous means that the data and voice sessions exist simultaneously, i.e., with this system any user can transmit voice or data but not both. They have to transmit voice and data alternately.

The prior art is only point to point with the exception of ISDN which is point to multipoint. If a line is used in the prior art incoming calls cannot be received and no other outgoing calls can be made while the session is active, i.e., the connection is tied up. While using the data network (Internet) no phone service is available on the line and using the phone service prohibits data network sessions on the phone line.

Some prior art does not allow simultaneous voice and data communication on a single phone line.

While some prior art does provide simultaneous voice and data communication, it requires high or prohibitive infrastructure cost.

The prior art is incapable of translating between different media types on different networks and different protocols used on different networks. Here a media type includes voice, compressed voice, and data. Examples of protocols include D.SVD standards for simultaneous voice and data communication on telephone lines and ad hoc protocols such as are used in Voice View.

Accordingly, the invention provides a gateway comprising: a data connection to one or more data networks; a voice connection to one or more voice networks; one or more paths capable of establishing a connection among one or more of the voice connections and one or more of the data connections to one or more destinations on one or more of the voice networks and one or more of the data networks; and means for executing a process to control and direct the flow of voice and data information along said one or more paths between the destinations on the networks.

In a preferred embodiment, the gateway further comprises means for converting the information into formats that are recognized at the respective destinations, and said one or more paths include one or more signal processing resources and one or more routing mechanisms for establishing a connection. The means for executing a process includes means for examining control information on a control channel, the control channel being accessible on both the data and voice networks, the control information being used to select the signal processing resources and routing mechanisms to establish the connection.

In a typical environment, a first destination has a telephone capable of communicating only by voice and a second destination has a simultaneous voice and data (SVD) modem. In such circumstances, the control information causes the gateway to use the signal processing resource to compress a voice signal from the telephone to the SVD modem and decompress the voice signal from the SVD modem to the telephone. Further, a third destination on one of the data networks may have a data connection to the first destination, the first destination having a simultaneous voice connection to the second destination. The control information can then be used to cause the gateway to split a combined SVD voice and data stream into a voice stream and a data stream, and to route the voice stream to the second destination and the data stream to the third destination. It is also possible, where the first destination has one or more telephones and the second destination has one or more SVD modems, for the control information to cause the gateway to combine each of the voice streams from the first destination with each of the voice streams from the second destination into one or more voice conferencing units. This creates a conferenced stream, with the gateway then routing the conferenced stream to both the first and second destinations. In the situation where the first destination has one or more SVD modems with a first SVD protocol, and a second destination has one or more SVD modems with a second SVD protocol, the control information can cause the gateway to use one or more of the signal processing resources to translate between the first and second SVD protocols, thereby allowing the incompatible protocols of the first and second destinations to communicate with one another.

The invention also provides a method of operating a gateway having a data connection to one or more data networks and a voice connection to one or more voice networks, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming message, the message originating from a user on said one or more voice networks or said one or more data networks, the message having a voice type or a data type, the data type potentially being capable of having one or more data streams and/or one or more voice streams; determining that the message is a data type; negotiating with a modem to determine a protocol of the message; and making a connection between a source of the message and one or more destinations.

In one preferred embodiment, the negotiating step determines that the message is data only and the connection is a data connection made after a data connection request. Another possibility is that the negotiation step determines that the message is an SVD protocol and the connection is a data connection made after the SVD protocol is negotiated and a connection request is made. In this case the method further comprises the steps of: splitting the data stream from the message, if there is a data stream; splitting the voice stream from the message, if there is a voice stream; connecting the data stream to one or more data destinations designated in the message; and connecting the voice stream through an outgoing call to one or more voice destinations designated in the message.

Viewed from another aspect, the invention also provides a system comprising: one or more users connected to a user voice connection on a gateway through a user voice network; one or more agents connected to an agent voice connection on the gateway through an agent voice network; a data storage connected through one or more data networks to a data connection on the gateway; one or more paths in the gateway capable of establishing a connection among the user voice connections, the agent voice connections, and the data connection, using one or more signal processing resources and one or more routing mechanisms; and a process, executing on the gateway, to control and direct a flow of voice and data information among the users, agents, and data storage by examining control information on a control channel, the control channel being accessible on both the data and voice networks, the control information being used to select the signal processing resources and routing mechanisms to establish the connection.

In one preferred embodiment, the user and the agents are SVD modems, with the user being an end product user and the agent being a customer service representative. Alternatively the one or more agents may have a telephone and the one or more clients may have a SVD modem, wherein the client is an end product user with a simultaneous SVD session on the data network and the agent is a customer service representative on the telephone. As another alternative, the one or more users may have a telephone and the one or more agents may have a SVD modem, wherein the user is a customer and the agents are a company representative.

The above approach provides a communication architecture that allows simultaneous voice and data point to multipoint communication over one phone line using the currently widely deployed infrastructure in a cost effective way. The communication gateway architecture overcomes incompatibility between different voice, compressed voice, and data media types and protocols. Thus simultaneous communications over a computer network like the Internet or an intranet and a voice network like the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) may be performed by using a media splitter gateway architecture. Such a communication gateway architecture enables collaborative computing, help desk, automatic call distribution and mobile or home based applications.

Thus the gateway permits point to multipoint connectivity from voice, data, or SVD clients over voice and data networks. The gateway connects one or more known voice networks (e.g. telephone networks) and one or more data networks (e.g. LANs, WANs, and internet) so that clients on either network may access any of the networks via various devices like analog telephones, data modems, SVD modems, or direct data network connections (e.g., ethernet, token ring). The gateway has connections to both the data network(s) as well as the voice network(s). The gateway is capable of splitting a signal with both voice and data streams and routing either and/or both of these streams over the voice network alone, the data network alone, or any combination of voice and data networks. The gateway may be connected to both the data network(s) and voice network(s) using standard hardware so that an end user on either the data or voice network or both has the ability to control the switching and routing of voice and/or data on either the data or voice network or both. Consequently a user can control transmissions simultaneously to multiple users at multiple destinations, each of which can have different types of (possibly incompatible) voice data equipment.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example only with reference to the following drawings: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Figure 1 is a block diagram showing voice and data networks connected to the present gateway;</li><li>Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the components and connections of the gateway;</li><li>Figure 3, comprising Figures 3A-3D, presents block diagrams showing various connections and data flows that are handled by the gateway;</li><li>Figure 4 shows the flowchart of the process of call establishment, for point to multipoint connections from a SVD modem equipped user to different destinations on the voice and the data network;</li><li>Figure 5 shows a block diagram of a logical schematic of the voice, data and control information data structure (packet) as it is carried on the SVD modem;</li><li>Figure 6 shows an example of a user (SVD modem equipped), accessing a service agent in a Small Office Home Office (SOHO) environment, and also an SVD modem equipped user;</li><li>Figure 7 shows an example of a User with a data session on a data network, via an SVD call placed through a voice network, and through the Gateway, while receiving an incoming voice call; and</li><li>Figure 8 shows an example where a User having a telephone, calls a SOHO Agent (SVD modem equipped).</li></ul>

In accordance with the present invention, a Gateway is provided that permits point to multipoint connectivity from voice, data, or SVD clients over voice and data networks. The operation of the Gateway may be described with reference to Figure 1.

Here, a voice network 115 and a data network 110 are shown, logically distinct from one another. Clients on either network may access the network via analog telephones 135, data modems 144, SVD modems 144, or direct data network connections (e.g., ethernet, token ring) 121.

As shown in Figure 1, a SVD modem 144 equipped client 145 is connected to the voice network. One or more analog telephones 135, also are connected to the voice network 115. One or more computers 130 are connected to the data network 110. Typically, one or more data servers 107 are also connected on the data network 110.

The system 100 represents an entire voice and data network, with all the connections to clients 145, servers 107, gateways 150 and enabling hardware and software on the voice and data network system 100. The data network 110, is typically a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), with possible connections to other networks such as the Internet, represented by 105. Data networks 105 like this are well known. A typical server 107 on the data network 105 accesses data from (and sends data through) the data network 105. The voice network 115, typically is the public switched telephone network (PSTN), with switches 120, which serve the purpose of switching calls on the voice network between clients 145. Computers 130 can be connected to the voice network, via data modems as can standard telephone sets (telephones 135). A typical modem 145 used to connect both computers 130 and telephones 135 is a simultaneous voice and data modem (SVD) 144, which permits the flow of data and voice simultaneously on the voice network. These technologies are well known.

The novel Gateway 150 is capable of splitting a signal with both voice and data components (streams) and routing either and/or both of these components (streams) over the voice network alone, the data network alone, or any combination of voice and data networks. The Gateway 150, has connections to both the data network(s) 110 as well as the voice network(s) 115. In a preferred embodiment, the connection to the voice network(s) 115 is via a dedicated trunk line (T1) 185 to switch 120, and the connection to the data network(s) 110 is via data network connection 121, e.g. a token ring.

Novel processes 400 permit the gateway to be connected to both the data network(s) and voice network(s) using standard hardware so that an end user on either the data or voice network or both has the ability to control the switching and routing of voice and/or data on either the data or voice network or both. Consequently a user can control transmissions simultaneously to multiple users at multiple destination each of which can have different types of (possibly incompatible) voice data equipment.

The architecture of the gateway is shown in Figure 2. The gateway 150 comprises a computer with connections 210 to the voice network(s), one or more routers 230, connected to the data network(s) 110, and one or more paths 250. The computer can be any general purpose computer, e.g., an IBM PC.

The Gateway is shown here as comprising a number of paths 250, corresponding to each of one or more channels 210 on the T1 trunk line 185. For each of these T1 channels 210, there is a bank of DSP resources 220 available for performing a number of signal processing algorithms. Examples of these processing algorithms include modem protocols, voice compression/decompression, etc. The DSP's are dynamically allocatable for one or more signal processing algorithms on each channel 210. An example of this component would be an IBM MWAVE DSP chip. Also shown in Figure 2 is a data connection from each path 250, to one or more routers 230, through which each path 250 has access to the data network(s) 110.

Further note that these channels 210 can be physical or logical and are typically full duplex links to telephone switches 120 that have multiple logical ports for sending and receiving multiple data streams. These channels 210 are well known.

Also resident on one or more of the DSP's are novel processes 400 that enable a point to multipoint connection for simultaneous voice and data signals.

The operation of the gateway in permitting simultaneous voice and data access for point to multipoint operation is described by the nonlimiting examples explained in Figures 3A - 3D.

In Figure 3A, the DSP 220 is shown in further detail. It comprises at least one simultaneous voice and data modem process (SVD) 312, one or more voice decompression processes (DU) 314, and one or more voice compression processes (CU) 316. The CU and DU are known processes for compressing/decompressing voice/data, e.g. G.723. The SVD 312 contains novel processes 400 that are described below.

Figure 3B shows the connection through the gateway 150 between two clients 145 equipped with SVD modems 144. As shown by connection (or stream) 315, a telephone call is placed through the voice network 115. From here, the call is sent to the gateway 150 via a digital trunk channel 185, to channel 210 on the gateway 150. (The gateway 150 is selected, by the user or by the switch by a unique number, e.g., a destination phone number.) Then, the data on the trunk 185 (e.g. digital data) is sent to SVD 312 which establishes a SVD connection with the sender client's 145 SVD modem. A control message 500 is passed between the client 145 and the gateway 150, to determine the routing information for the voice and data channels that exist simultaneously on the SVD call. (See below for a further description of the control message 500.)

If the calling client 145 wishes to place an SVD call to another SVD modem equipped client 145, the call is routed as shown in Figure 3B, via another channel 210, through the voice network 115, and eventually to the destination client with the SVD equipped modem. (Note that the two clients 145 shown in Figure 3B alternatively can be calling or destination clients.)

Figure 3C shows yet another scenario. If the calling SVD client 145 wishes to place a voice call 350 to telephone unit 135 (note that there is no computer to process data here), and a data call to a destination on the data network 110, the voice channel of the SVD call is split 333 from the combined voice and data stream by SVD 312, and is passed to DU 314 for decompression. Subsequently, it is routed via another channel 210, through the voice network 115, to the telephone 135. In a similar fashion, voice 352 from telephone 135 is routed through the CU 316, and is then passed through the SVD modem 312, through the T1 channel 210, and through the voice network 115 to the SVD client 145.

The data stream 355 intended for the data network 110 is split 333 by the SVD 312 from the combined voice and data stream 348, and routed through router 230, to the data network 110.

Figure 3D shows yet another scenario, as an extension of the scenario in Figure 3C and Figure 3B. Here, two SVD modem equipped users 145 are shown with a telephone user 135, i.e., another point to multipoint embodiment. The users 145 have data sessions 355 on the data network 110. At the same time, users 145 and user 135 also have all their voice channels conferenced through a voice conferencing unit (VCU) 340. Since the voice from users 145 is compressed for transmission over the voice network 115, it is first decompressed through DU 314, and then sent to the VCU 340. Similarly, since voice from telephone 135 is not compressed, it is sent directly to the VCU 340. This distinction is made by the SVD 312 as described below. Note that all users get combined voice data from all the other users sending voice data in the session. This happens because all the voice components of the session are sent to the VCU 340 to be combined there 340. VCUs 340 are well known in the telecommunications arts.

After all the voice streams 350 are combined in the VCU 340, the combined voice stream 350 is directly sent to telephone(s) 135 via truck channel 210 and voice network 115. In addition the combined voice stream 350 is compressed at the CU 316, and sent to the SVD users 145. In this way, voice conferencing is possible between SVD users 145 and normal telephone users, while the SVD users 145 are simultaneously engaged in data sessions on the data network 110.

Figure 4 is a flow chart showing the steps of the novel process 400 in SVD 312.

Here, the Gateway (GW) 150 receives an incoming call in step 405. Step 407 then determines whether the call is a voice telephone call or a modem data call. This is done by examining known signal identifiers on the incoming call, e.g., the tone that indicates a data facsimile is being sent.

If the call is a telephone voice call 409, the Gateway 150 presents a menu via voice or signal tone prompts, requesting the initiating caller to enter a destination phone number or address 411. When the initiating caller enters the destination number, the Gateway 150 places an outgoing call to the destination number, and makes the connection to the initiating caller 413. Thus the voice call is established.

If the call type in 407 is determined to be data (modem), in 415, the data connection is routed to a modem protocol 417, and the modem protocol type is determined.

If the modem is a regular data only modem 419, the modem protocol is used in step 421 to negotiate with initiating caller, and if a data connection is requested 423, the initiating caller is connected to a data destination 425.

If the modem protocol is determined to be SVD 427, SVD protocol is used 429 to negotiate with the initiating caller. If a connection is requested 431 from the initiating caller to the gateway 150 via the control field (530 below), it is determined whether the connection is data 433 or voice 435. If the request is for data, the data is split from the combined SVD voice and data stream 437, and connected to the final data destination. If the request is for voice, voice is split from the combined SVD voice and data stream 439 and an outgoing call is placed 441 to the voice destination, and the initiating caller is connected to the voice destination.

The data 437 and voice 439 splitting are accomplished by examination of a data packet 500 (described below in relation to Figure 5). In the packet, voice stream 510, data streams 520, and control streams 530, occupy specific locations on the novel packet 500 as designated by header 505 information. Accordingly, the process 400 uses the location of the voice 510 and data 520 information to remove each of these streams (510, 520) and route them separately to their respective destinations as specified in the control stream 530. (Note that more than one data stream 520 and/or voice stream 510 can be located on the data packet 500.) The packet 500, with its fields (505, 510, 520, and 530) can be created by the gateway 150 or any SVD user/client 145. On the gateway 150, packets are created by processes running on one or more signal processing resources 220. In this process, digital data from the data network 110 is stored in a buffer, to create the data 520 of the packet 500. Voice data from the voice network is received in digital format from unit 210, and also stored in a buffer to create the voice 510 of the packet 500. Control information 530 is then added to the packet. This control information is produced by processes running on one or more signal processing resources, and the computer of the gateway 150, as a result of control information received from one or more clients/users, and as a result of control information from process 400.

If the modem is determined to be a different modem type than described above 443, other modem protocols may be employed to establish the appropriate protocol. Such protocol extensions are made possible by incorporating them into one or more DSP resources 220, as appropriate.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of a data packet 500 comprising the logical units of the multiplexing of voice 510, data 520 and control 530 information on a single connection. Every SVD data stream is logically broken up into separate data and voice streams, and in addition, there is a control stream, for passing information between SVD modems, to control the flow and routing of the constituent voice and data streams. For example, sender and destination telephone numbers are sent via this control channel 530. Other information for call control, such as call hold, transfer, etc. are also sent via this control channel 530.

As data and voice networks grow, the capacity of a gateway 150 may require to also be increased. For this purpose, gateways 150 have the capability to be interconnected, or placed in multiple locations, on voice and data networks.

The gateway 150 can be used in a number of applications, made uniquely possible by the gateway's 150 ability to provide point-to-multipoint connectivity.

Figure 6 shows an example of a user 145 (SVD modem equipped), accessing a service agent in a Small Office Home Office (SOHO) environment, and also an SVD modem equipped user 145. Here, the agent uses one telephone line connected to the voice network 115, to simultaneously talk to the calling User 145, and to access data on a data network 110. At the same time, user 145 can also access the data network 110.

Figure 6 describes an example where user 145 (SVD modem equipped) makes a voice call to Agent 145 (also SVD modem equipped). At the same time, both User and Agent also have data sessions on the data network 110. This scenario is useful in situations where the Agent is for example a Small Office Home Office (SOHO) agent, who benefits from the use of a single phone line, for both voice and data connections simultaneously. Both users now do not tie up their lines, and are free to carry on data sessions while talking to each other.

In Figure 7, User 145 has a data session on a data network 110, via an SVD call placed through voice network 115, and through the Gateway 150. Now, telephone user 135 wishes to place a voice call to User 145. The call comes in to the Gateway 150. The Gateway 150 determines that User 145 has an incoming voice call, and alerts the User 145 of the incoming call. Now, if User 145 wishes to accept the incoming voice call, the Gateway 150 connects telephone 135 to the voice channel of User 145, thereby making an incoming voice call connection. Alternately, if User 145 declines to receive the incoming voice call, the Gateway can disconnect the incoming call, or redirect the incoming call, or record a message from user 135, for User 145.

Figure 7 illustrates a scenario where a user 145 (SVD modem equipped) has a data session on data network 110. His/her voice channel is at the time unused. Now, telephone user 135 places a voice call to user 145, via the Gateway 150. Gateway 150 determines that user 145 has an incoming call, and notifies him. If user 145 accepts the call, the Gateway 150 connects the voice channel of 145 to the voice call from user 135, making a voice connection. In this manner, user 145 has the ability to receive an incoming call while engaged in a data session on the data network 110. If the user 145 rejects the incoming call, the Gateway 150 can reject the incoming call from 135, or re-direct the call to another destination, or for example, accept a voice recording for user 145.

Figure 8 shows an example where User 135, a telephone, calls a SOHO Agent 145 (SVD modem equipped) . Here, unlike the scenario of Figure 6, the user 135 does not have direct access to the data network 110. Instead, data is accessible only to SOHO Agent 145. This scenario is useful when information is to be accessed only by the agent, pertaining to the voice conversation with user 135.

In yet another example shown in Figure 8, user 135 is telephone user with voice capability only, and is connected to Agent 145 (SVD modem equipped). This is a voice connection only. At the same time, Agent 145 has access to a data session on the data network 110. This scenario is useful for help desk applications, or for mail order applications, where agents need access to data from a data network, pertaining to clients who call them on voice only devices, such as telephones 135.

In such applications, it is useful to have a device 605, called an Intelligent Call Routing System (ICRS) which allows users (such as 135 or 145) to call one telephone number, while the ICRS determines one or more available agents, and then connects the users to the agents. The ability of the ICRS to intelligently route calls to available agents or to agents with the access to information pertinent to the calling user, is made more powerful when used in conjunction with the point-to-multipoint connection capability provided by Gateway 150.