Systems and methods for multiple mode voice and data communications using intelligenty bridged TDM and packet buses and methods for performing telephony and data functions using the same

1. In a system for managing voice and data communications for a plurality of users, wherein the system is coupled to at least one wide area telecommunications network, wherein the system includes at least a processor and data storage resources, a method comprising the steps of:

communicating computer data between the system and one of a plurality of computers coupled to the system over one or more packet buses;

communicating voice data between the system and one of a plurality of telephone devices coupled to the system;

coupling the voice data to a TDM bus in the system, and coupling the voice data and/or the computer data from the TDM bus to a digital transmission link of the telecommunications network under control of the processor;

coupling video and audio data between the system and a video conferencing unit coupled to the system;

coupling the video and audio data to the TDM bus under control of the processor;

coupling the video and audio data from the TDM bus to the digital transmission link of the telecommunications network under control of the processor;

wherein a video conference participant participates in a video conference with the video conferencing unit over the digital transmission link, while concurrently a user participates in a telephone call with one of the telephone devices over the digital transmission link, wherein voice communications of the telephone call that stay in a circuit-switched form are provided via the TDM bus.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video and audio data from the video conferencing unit are coupled to the system over a serial bus.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the serial bus comprises an interface trunk compliant with a V.35, V.36 or V.37 standard.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video conferencing unit is coupled to the system via an interface card.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video and audio data from the video conferencing unit is coupled to the system in a form compatible with data transmission over the digital transmission link.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the video and audio data from the video conferencing unit comprises PCM data.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital transmission link comprises a T-1 line.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the video and audio data from the video conferencing unit is coupled to the system in a form compatible with data transmission over the T-1 line.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video and audio data from the video conferencing unit are coupled to the system via a digital telecommunications interface.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the digital telecommunications interface comprises an ISDN interface.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the video and audio data from the video conferencing unit is coupled to the system using an H.320 protocol.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the video conferencing unit is coupled to the system via an ISDN-compliant interface card.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein a video conference occurs with the video conferencing unit while concurrent voice and data communications are occurring over the digital transmission link.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of coupling the video and audio data from the TDM bus to a digital transmission link of the telecommunications network comprises the step of coupling the video and audio data to and from a switch/multiplexer.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of coupling the video and audio data from the TDM bus to a digital transmission link of the telecommunications network comprises the steps of coupling the video and audio data from a first one or more channels of the TDM bus to a switch/multiplexer and coupling the video and audio data from the switch/multiplexer to a second one or more channels of the TDM bus.

16. In a system for managing voice and data communications for a plurality of users, wherein the system is coupled to at least one wide area telecommunications network, wherein the system includes at least a processor and data storage resources, a method comprising the steps of:

coupling video and audio data between the system and a first computer of a plurality of computers coupled to the system over one or more packet buses, wherein at least the first computer has coupled thereto a camera and a microphone providing the video and audio data coupled between the system and the first computer;

selectively coupling the video and audio data to a TDM bus in the system under control of the processor, wherein the video and audio data are bridged between the one or more packet buses and the TDM bus under control of the processor;

coupling the video and audio data from the TDM bus to the telecommunications network under control of the processor;

coupling voice data between the system and a telephone and coupling computer data between the system and a second computer;

coupling the voice data and/or the computer data to the TDM bus under control of the processor, wherein the computer data are bridged between the one or more packet buses and the TDM bus under control of the processor; and

coupling the voice data and/or the computer data from the TDM bus to the telecommunications network under control of the processor;

wherein a video conference participant participates in a video conference with the first computer over the telecommunications network, while concurrently a telephone user participates in a telephone call with the telephone over the telecommunications network, wherein voice communications of the telephone call that stay in a circuit-switched form are provided via the TDM bus.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the video and audio data are depacketized and processed in an HDLC format.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the video and audio data are processed with an HDLC framer.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein an output of the HDLC framer is coupled to the TDM bus.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the output of the HDLC framer is coupled to the TDM bus via a switch/multiplexer, wherein the switch/multiplexer couples the video and audio data to channels of the TDM bus.

21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of coupling the video and audio data to a third computer coupled to the one or more packet buses, wherein users of the first and third computers participate in the video conference.