Device to terminate a modem relay channel directly to an IP network

Abstract

A modem data aggregating gateway that supports modem relay functionality for permitting reliable switching of modem traffic between a VoIP network and a data packet switch Internet Protocol (IP) network, s.a. the Internet. The modem relay aggregator may receive modem data encapsulated as Voice over IP (VoIP) data packets in accordance with a Simple Packet Relay Transport (SPRT) mechanism. The packet data may be error corrected and / or decompressed before being repackaged for forwarding to the ultimate destination. In the event that the destination is itself an IP device, the modem relay aggregator may forward the packets directly over the IP network. As a result, if the destination of a modem call is an IP device (such as a Web site or other Internet-enabled device) the technique eliminates two points from a processing path in which digital signal processing (DSPs) would otherwise have to perform modem protocol processing. Otherwise, minimal modem reformatting can be performed at the aggregation point.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 144,423, filed May 10, 2002. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Most home computer users are now connected to a network such as the Internet in one way or another. The most popular connection technique still is to use the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and a device called a modem. As is now quite familiar to even the general population, a modem makes a connection by dialing a telephone number of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), who maintains equipment that connects to the Internet. Digital signals generated by the user's computer are converted to analog signals and vice versa by the modem such that they may be carried over the telephone lines accurately.[0003]What is less familiar to the public at large is the configuration of the ISP equipment and how it provides connections to the Internet. ISPs...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This solution provides a reliable and efficient transport of modem traffic across packet networks by eliminating the need for demodulation and additional processing at the Terminating Gateway, reducing network complexity and enhancing modem session termination for Internet Service Providers.

Problems solved by technology

While there remains an effort to develop standards for carrying modem traffic over TDM connections, there is no standard yet adopted to date for reliable transport of modem signals over IP connections.

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