Telecommunications network to internetwork universal server

Claim 1

A server, comprising: a first interface for coupling the server to the Internet using packet addresses defined in a first protocol; a second interface for connecting the server to a public switched telephone (PSTN) network via a telephone link capable of selectively transporting at least two signals defined respectively in two protocols different from one another and different from said first protocol, one of said two protocols comprising a voice signal protocol; two application processing units for processing respectively said two transported signals; a switch coupling said second interface to said two application processing units; a central processing unit coupled to said second interface, said switch, and said two application processing units; software running on the central processing unit for processing information received from said second interface to generate control signals for said switch, wherein: a) the software controls the central processing unit to deliver to said switch control signals directing the delivery by said switch to one of said two processing units one of said two transported signals, and to deliver to the other of said two application processing units the other of said two transported signals; and b) said two transported signals are stripped respectively of said two protocols which are different from said first protocol, processed in said respective application processing units, delivered to said first interface and provided with packet addresses according to said first protocol.

Claim 18

A method for accessing a public system of interlinked packet data networks using packet addresses defined in a first protocol with multiple signals of differing protocols from a public switched telephone (PSTN) network comprising the steps of: delivering from said PSTN network to an integrated server a digital time division multiplexed signal comprising said multiple signals of differing protocols; analyzing each of said multiple signals of differing protocols delivered to said integrated server to determine the protocol thereof; switching each of said multiple signals of differing protocols which were analyzed in said analyzing step to a specialized application processing unit selected on the basis of the protocol determined in said analyzing step; processing each of said multiple signals of differing protocols in said specialized processing units pursuant to processing methodology tailored to the determined protocol of the signal being processed; translating the protocols of each of said multiple signals of differing protocols to said first protocol; and delivering said processed and translated signals to said public system of interlinked packet data networks using packet addresses defined in said first protocol.

Claim 19

A method for accessing a public system of interlinked packet data networks using packet addresses defined in a first protocol with multiple signals of differing protocols from a public switched telephone (PSTN) network comprising the steps of: delivering from said PSTN network to an integrated server a digital time division multiplexed signal comprising said multiple signals of differing protocols; analyzing each of said multiple signals of differing protocols delivered to said integrated server to determine the protocol thereof; switching each of said multiple signals of differing protocols which were analyzed in said analyzing step to a specialized application processing unit selected on the basis of the protocol determined in said analyzing step; processing each of said multiple signals of differing protocols in said specialized processing units pursuant to processing methodology tailored to the determined protocol of the signal being processed; translating the protocols of each of said multiple signals of differing protocols to said first protocol; and delivering said processed and translated signals to said public system of interlinked packet data networks using packet addresses defined in said first protocol.

Claim 26

A method for accessing a public system of interlinked packet data networks using packet addresses defined in a first protocol with multiple signals of protocols differing from said first protocol via a switching system in a public switched telephone (PSTN) network comprising the steps of: delivering from said switching system to an integrated server synchronous digital time division multiplexed signals containing said multiple signals of differing protocols, at least one of the protocols of said multiple signals comprising a voice signal protocol; identifying each of said multiple signals delivered to said integrated server; based on the identity of said multiple signals obtained in said identifying step, switching said signals individually to different respective application processing units; processing each of said multiple signals in said respective application processing units pursuant to differing processing methodology depending on the identity of the signal being processed; translating the protocols of each of said multiple signals to said first protocol; and delivering said processed and translated signals to said public system of interlinked packet data networks using packet addresses defined in said first protocol.

Claim 27

A method for accessing a public system of interlinked packet data networks using packet addresses defined in a first protocol with multiple signals of protocols differing from said first protocol via a switching system in a public switched telephone (PSTN) network comprising the steps of: delivering from said switching system to an integrated server synchronous digital time division multiplexed signals containing said multiple signals of differing protocols, at least one of the protocols of said multiple signals comprising a voice signal protocol; identifying each of said multiple signals delivered to said integrated server; based on the identity of said multiple signals obtained in said identifying step, switching said signals individually to different respective application processing units; processing each of said multiple signals in said respective application processing units pursuant to differing processing methodology depending on the identity of the signal being processed; translating the protocols of each of said multiple signals to said first protocol; and delivering said processed and translated signals to said public system of interlinked packet data networks using packet addresses defined in said first protocol.

Claim 32

A method of establishing communication from a calling telephone network subscriber station through a hybrid combination of networks including public switched telephone networks having switching systems connected by trunks and control systems for communication path establishment through said telephone networks, and a public internetwork of interlinked packet data networks using packet addresses defined in a first protocol, comprising the steps of: transmitting from said calling subscriber station to a first of said switching systems a call initiation request message including characters signaling a request for communication through said hybrid combination of networks and identification of a called station; initiating, from said first of said switching systems via said control systems and said public internetwork two-way control messages establishing the availability of said called station; upon establishing the availability of said called station, delivering from one of said switching systems, to an integrated server, synchronous digital time division multiplexed signals containing a signal from said calling subscriber station having a second protocol; identifying said second protocol delivered to said integrated server; based on the identity of said second protocol, switching said signal from said calling subscriber station to an application processing unit of a type determined by said second protocol; processing said signal from said calling subscriber station in said application processing unit pursuant to a processing methodology depending on said second protocol; translating said second protocol of said signal from said calling subscriber station to said first protocol; and delivering said processed and translated signal to said public system of interlinked packet data networks using packet addresses defined in said first protocol.

Claim 33

A method of establishing communication from a calling telephone network subscriber station through a hybrid combination of networks including public switched telephone networks having switching systems connected by trunks and control systems for communication path establishment through said telephone networks, and a public internetwork of interlinked packet data networks using packet addresses defined in a first protocol, comprising the steps of: transmitting from said calling subscriber station to a first of said switching systems a call initiation request message including characters signaling a request for communication through said hybrid combination of networks and identification of a called station; initiating, from said first of said switching systems via said control systems and said public internetwork two-way control messages establishing the availability of said called station; upon establishing the availability of said called station, delivering from one of said switching systems, to an integrated server, synchronous digital time division multiplexed signals containing a signal from said calling subscriber station having a second protocol; identifying said second protocol delivered to said integrated server; based on the identity of said second protocol, switching said signal from said calling subscriber station to an application processing unit of a type determined by said second protocol; processing said signal from said calling subscriber station in said application processing unit pursuant to a processing methodology depending on said second protocol; translating said second protocol of said signal from said calling subscriber station to said first protocol; and delivering said processed and translated signal to said public system of interlinked packet data networks using packet addresses defined in said first protocol.