US6236653B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Local telephone service over a cable network using packet voice
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1996-12-23
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Granted: 2001-05-22
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Expires: 2016-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A cable modem supports two-way packet-switched traffic and is capable of telephony-type signaling to provide local telephone services over a two-way HFC cable network. The telephony-type signaling is transmitted using the TCP/IP protocol over an HFC distribution plant. This telephony-type signaling includes representations of “off-hook,” “on-hook,” etc. At the customer's premises, the telephony cable modem takes any one of a number of forms. For example, the telephony cable modem comprises terminal equipment ports for coupling to both data terminal equipment such as a personal computer and voice terminal equipment such as a POTS telephone. Alternatively, the telephony cable modem includes POTS functionality and comprises a handset and keypad for dialing. As yet another example, the telephony cable modem includes a terminal equipment port for coupling to data terminal equipment that also functions as a telephone, such as a personal computer equipped with a microphone and speakers.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert William Dalton
- 👤 Martin Joel Glapa
- 👤 Krishna Gudapati
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M7/00; H04M7/12; H04M7/1205; H04M7/121; H04M7/1215; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/64; H04L12/6418; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0435; H04Q11/0457; H04L2012/6424; H04L2012/6427; H04L2012/6443; H04L2012/6472; H04L2012/6475; H04L2012/6481; H04L2012/6486; H04M3/00; H04M3/005; H04M3/42; H04M3/56; H04M7/0012; H04M7/0021; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/1301; H04Q2213/13012; H04Q2213/13031; H04Q2213/13034; H04Q2213/1307; H04Q2213/13093; H04Q2213/13097; H04Q2213/13102; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/13106; H04Q2213/13107; H04Q2213/13176; H04Q2213/13196; H04Q2213/13199; H04Q2213/13202; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13209; H04Q2213/1329; H04Q2213/13292; H04Q2213/13332; H04Q2213/13389; H04Q2213/13396
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for use in equipment for providing telephone services over a cable network, the method comprising the steps of: coupling the equipment to at least one packet facility and at least one switched facility; receiving a telephone signaling message from a switched facility coupled thereto, the telephone signaling message comprising, at least, a called party telephone number; identifying a packet address from the called party telephone number; and transmitting the telephone signaling message in a packet form over the packet facility to the identified packet address wherein the telephone service is Provided to a number of users and further comprising the step of storing a routing table, the routing table comprising three fields for each user: a user packet address, a telephone number and a packet address for the equipment such that for at least two users the equipment packet address is different.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for use in equipment for providing telephone services over a cable network, the method comprising the steps of: coupling the equipment to at least one packet facility and at least one switched facility; receiving a telephone signaling message from a switched facility coupled thereto, the telephone signaling message comprising, at least, a called party telephone number; identifying a packet address from the called party telephone number; and transmitting the telephone signaling message in a packet form over the packet facility to the identified packet address wherein the telephone service is Provided to a number of users and further comprising the step of storing a routing table, the routing table comprising three fields for each user: a user packet address, a telephone number and a packet address for the equipment such that for at least two users the equipment packet address is different.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting step includes the step of using a transaction-control-protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in transmitting the packet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the telephone signaling message is an ISDN signaling message.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for use in equipment for providing telephone services over a cable network to a number of users, the method comprising the steps of: a) coupling the equipment to at least one packet facility and at least one switched facility; b) communicating telephone signaling messages received over the switched facility in packet form over the packet facility and vice versa; and c) communicating data between the switched facility and the packet facility in support of any telephone calls established as a result of step a) wherein step b) includes the step of storing a routing table, the routing table comprising three fields for each user: a user packet address, a telephone number and a packet address for the equipment such that for at least two users the equipment packet address is different.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for use in equipment for providing telephone services over a cable network to a number of users, the method comprising the steps of: a) coupling the equipment to at least one packet facility and at least one switched facility; b) communicating telephone signaling messages received over the switched facility in packet form over the packet facility and vice versa; and c) communicating data between the switched facility and the packet facility in support of any telephone calls established as a result of step a) wherein step b) includes the step of storing a routing table, the routing table comprising three fields for each user: a user packet address, a telephone number and a packet address for the equipment such that for at least two users the equipment packet address is different.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 4 wherein step b) includes the step of using a transaction-control-protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) for transmitting and receiving telephone signaling messages over the packet facility.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the switched facility is an ISDN facility and the telephone signaling messages are ISDN signaling messages.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4 wherein step c) includes the step of using a user-datagram-protocol/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP) for transmitting and receiving the data over the packet facility.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the switched facility is an ISDN facility comprising a D-channel and at least one B-channel, and the data corresponds to information communicated to, and from, the at least one B-channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the data is audio information between a called party and a calling party.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-21 | 2004-11-20 | 2005-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-21 | 2008-11-20 | 2009-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-21 | 2012-11-20 | 2013-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |