Gateway Unit LAN-Based Internal Communication Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gateway units connecting PSTN and IP networks face performance issues due to low-speed data transmission and unique internal control systems, leading to slow network management responses, especially when connected through IP protocols.
Innovation Solution
A gateway unit design incorporating a subscriber network interface, PSTN interface, exchange unit, signal conversion unit, switching unit, and an information communication unit using a general-purpose LAN for mediating communications, allowing for faster data transmission and improved processing performance by eliminating the need for complex protocol conversions and enhancing redundancy for fault tolerance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a unique internal control system with low-speed serial transmission is used in each gateway unit, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but data transmission speed deteriorates and network management response becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by replacing unique, vendor-specific control systems with a standardized Ethernet-based communication interface. This allows different gateway units from various vendors to interoperate through a common protocol, improving data transmission speed while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized components rather than custom proprietary systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If protocol conversion processing is implemented to connect gateway units and network management devices through IP, then adaptability is improved, but processing time increases and network management response becomes further slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for complex protocol conversion processing by directly implementing Ethernet communication at the gateway unit level. This removes the intermediate conversion step that caused time delays, allowing gateway units to communicate with network management devices through standardized Ethernet frames without requiring additional protocol translation layers
3Device complexity
If a bus topology with half-duplex communication is used for information communication in the gateway unit, then device complexity is reduced, but communication speed and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical bus topology with Ethernet switching technology that uses point-to-point connections. This replacement eliminates the inherent limitations of half-duplex bus communication while maintaining relatively simple device structure through standardized Ethernet ports and switches, achieving both low complexity and high communication efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A gateway unit for mutually connecting subscriber network, public switched telephone network (PSTN) and packet communication network, comprising subscriber network interface connected to subscriber network, PSTN interface connected to line exchange network, exchange unit exchange-connecting communication path among subscriber network, PSTN and packet communication network, control unit controlling connecting state of communication path at exchange unit, signal conversion unit converting form of signal transmitted and received between exchange unit and packet communication network into forms suitable for communication protocol of packet communication network and communication protocol of subscriber network, respectively, switching unit for route-controlling to transmit signal which is output from signal conversion unit toward destination in packet communication network, and information communication unit mediating information communications among subscriber network interface, PSTN interface, control unit, signal conversion unit and switching unit by using general-purpose local area network (LAN).