Local telephone service over a cable network using packet voice
US6236653A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 22, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2213/13396
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.