Voice and data telephone communication system and method

Claim 1

A digital communications network including digital switch systems incorporating channel banks providing multiple channels for multiplexing encoded messages in transmitting channels from voice and data devices into a high data rate bit stream, and demultiplexing a received high data rate bit stream into separate receiving channels for the voice and data devices, comprising: encoder means in the transmitting channels of the channel banks for converting inputted voice signals to a pulse modulated code; echo suppression means responsive to transmitted messages for suppressing echos in voice transmissions between calling and called parties, the echo suppression means including means operative in the individual channels and responsive to a predetermined analog signal for disabling the echo suppression function; and data units coupling the data devices to the channel banks, the data units being responsive to the readiness of associated data devices to initiate data transmissions to undertake preparatory echo suppression sequences, wherein the data units include means for transmitting repetitive digital patterns simulative of a predetermined analog signal to disable the echo suppression function in the channel prior to the data transmission, and means for exchanging preparatory data to establish a common data transfer rate.

Claim 9

The method of transmitting both voice and data through multiple channels in a digital communication network including echo suppression circuits in the network, the echo suppression circuits including signal responsive disabling means comprising the steps of: transmitting a block of digitally varying preparatory signals prior to any digital data in the channels to activate the disabling means in the echo suppression circuits, including transmitting a predetermined byte sequence and a software generated encoded simulation of a disabling signal for the disabling means, including simulating a continuous tone by a software generated sequence of hex code; transmitting voice signals in other channels while using echo suppression; transmitting signalling data for version and parameter interchange after cancellation of echo suppression in the digital channel; returning the echo suppression circuits to enabled status after the termination of digital data transmission; and configuring the echo suppression circuits such that the echo suppression circuits are normally on, and wherein the system interconnects data devices which may have different data rates.

Claim 10

The method of transmitting both voice and data through multiple channels in a digital communication network including echo suppression circuits in the network, the echo suppression circuits including signal responsive disabling means comprising the steps of: transmitting a block of digitally varying preparatory signals prior to any digital data in the channels to activate the disabling means in the echo suppression circuits, including transmitting a predetermined byte sequence and a software generated encoded simulation of a disabling signal for the disabling means, including simulating a continuous tone by a software generated sequence of hex code; transmitting voice signals in other channels while using echo suppression; transmitting signalling data for version and parameter interchange after cancellation of echo suppression in the digital channel; returning the echo suppression circuits to enabled status after the termination of digital data transmission; and configuring the echo suppression circuits such that the echo suppression circuits are normally on, and wherein the system interconnects data devices which may have different data rates.