초록 ▼

A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network

A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network accommodates real time voice transmission both through dedicated, scheduled bandwidth and through a packet-based routing within the confines and constraints of a data network. Conversion and call processing circuitry is also disclosed which enables access devices and personal computers to adapt voice information between analog voice stream and digital voice packet formats as proves necessary. Routing pathways include wireless spanning tree networks, wide area networks, telephone switching networks, internet, etc., in a manner virtually transparent to the user. A voice session and associate call setup simulates that of conventional telephone switching network, providing well-understood functionality common to any mobile, remote or stationary terminal, phone, computer, etc.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A communication network operating to support voice and data communication within a premises, said communication network comprising:a plurality of mobile network devices having a buffer that stores incoming digital voice information for a queuing period of a duration which correspon

[ We claim:] [1.] A communication network operating to support voice and data communication within a premises, said communication network comprising:a plurality of mobile network devices having a buffer that stores incoming digital voice information for a queuing period of a duration which corresponds to propagation delay through the communication network before beginning voice reproduction from the stored digital voice information to attempt to prevent periods of blanking during voice reproduction;a stationary network device;a wireless network that is used by each of said plurality of mobile network devices to selectively exchange voice and data packets with others of the plurality of mobile network devices;a hardwired network connected to both said stationary network device and said wireless network;said hardwired network being used to route voice and data packets between said stationary network device and said plurality of mobile network devices which participate via said wireless network;said wireless and hardwired networks exchanging voice and data packets on a packet by packet basis without considering whether a given packet constitutes a voice or a data packet;a telephone, connected to said stationary network device, that captures, delivers, receives and reproduces voice in an analog voice stream form;said stationary network device having a buffer that stores digital voice information received from said wireless network for a queuing period of a duration which corresponds to propagation delay through the communication network before converting the stored digital voice information into an analog voice stream and delivering the analog voice stream to said telephone to attempt to prevent periods of blanking in the analog voice stream; andsaid stationary network device converts analog voice streams received from said telephone into voice packets for delivery via said hardwired and wireless networks to a selected one of said plurality of mobile network devices.