Method and apparatus for replacing lost PSTN data in a packet network

1. A method of generating replacement data for different types of communication transmitted over a communication network, the method comprising:

detecting a communication type of a communication, wherein said communication type is one of a plurality of detectable communication types;

adjusting at least a first value in response to said communication type, wherein said first value varies depending on said communication type; and

fluctuating a plurality of registers pseudo-randomly between said first value and a second value to generate an output value;

wherein the first value comprises a positive sign and a magnitude and wherein the second value comprise a negative sign and the magnitude and wherein the fluctuating comprises fluctuating pseudo-randomly between the positive sign and the negative sign.

2. A method of claim 1 wherein the fluctuating comprises:

storing the magnitude in a multi-bit register;

generating the positive sign and the negative sign using a linear feedback shift register; and

providing one of the positive sign and negative sign in conjunction with the magnitude as the output value.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the types of communication comprises two or more of voice communication, facsimile communication and modem communication.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the replacement data comprises white noise data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication network comprises a packet network.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving data packets from the packet network;

detecting lost data packets and producing in response a lost data output indicating when replacement data needs to be provided;

removing overhead information from the data packets to produce output data; and

inserting the output value in response to the lost data output.

7. Apparatus for generating replacement data for different types of communication transmitted over a communication network, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a communication type of a communication, wherein said communication type is one of a plurality of detectable communication types;

means for adjusting at least a first value in response to said detected type of communication, wherein said first value varies depending on said detected type of communication; and

means for fluctuating a plurality of registers pseudo-randomly between said first value and a second value to generate an output value;

wherein the first value comprises a positive sign and a magnitude and wherein the second value comprise a negative sign and the magnitude and wherein the means for fluctuating comprises means for fluctuating pseudo-randomly between the positive sign and the negative sign.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for fluctuating comprises:

multi-bit register means for storing the magnitude;

linear feedback shift register means for generating the positive sign and negative sign; and

means for providing one of the positive sign and negative sign in conjunction with the magnitude as the output value.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the types of communication comprise two or more of voice communication, facsimile communication and modem communication.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the replacement data comprises white noise data.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the communication network comprises a packet network.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

means for receiving data packets from the packet network;

means for detecting lost data packets and producing in response a lost data output indicating when replacement data needs to be provided;

means for removing overhead information from the data packets to produce output data; and

means for inserting the output value in response to the lost data output.

13. Apparatus for generating replacement data for different types of communication transmitted over a communication network, the apparatus comprising:

an echo canceller arranged to detect a communication type of an incoming communication, wherein said communication type is one of a plurality of communication types detectable by said echo canceller;

a register control arranged to adjust at least a first value in response to said communication type, wherein said first value varies depending on said communication type; and

a plurality of registers arranged to fluctuate pseudo-randomly between said first value and a second value to generate an output value;

wherein the first value comprises a positive sign and a magnitude and wherein the second value comprises a negative sign and the magnitude and wherein the registers fluctuate pseudo-randomly between the positive sign and the negative sign.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the registers comprise a linear feedback shift register arranged to fluctuate pseudo-randomly between the positive sign and the negative sign and a second register arranged to store magnitude so that one of the positive sign and negative sign is provided in conjunction with the magnitude as the output value.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the echo canceller is arranged to detect two or more of voice communications facsimile communication and modem communication.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the replacement data comprises white noise data.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the communication network comprises a packet network.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

a lost packet unit arranged to receiving data packets from the packet network, to detect lost data packets and to produce in response a lost data output indicating when replacement data needs to be provided;

a data processing unit arranged to remove overhead information from the data packets to produce output data; and

a data playout unit arranged to insert the output value in response to the lost data output.