On-hook signal detector
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus are disclosed to minimize wasted bandwidth by suppressing communications between a trunking gateway and a media gateway until a telephone service-related signal is detected during an on-hook state. In an embodiment, the trunking gateway and the media gateway are part of a telecommunications network that utilizes a single fabric for both voice traffic and data traffic. For example, the network could transport all traffic via Internet Protocol packets.
1. An apparatus comprising:
circuitry that suppresses communications over an established communications link between the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is a trunking gateway, and a second device coupled to a network during a first state of operation, wherein the first state of operation comprises an on-hook state when the established communications link exists between the apparatus and the second device;
a port to receive a telephone service-related signal during the first state of operation, wherein the telephone service-related signal that is other than a voice signal includes a caller identification signal; and
circuitry to suspend the suppression of communications over the communications link in response to receiving the telephone service-related signal that is other than the voice signal and to transmit the telephone service-related signal to the second device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry to suppress communications comprises:
circuitry to detect signal energy.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the circuitry to detect signal energy comprises:
a voice activity detector.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the telephone service-related signal comprises:
at least one of
a visual message waiting indicator on signal,
a visual message waiting indicator off signal, and
a B-channel transmission that conforms to an Integrated Services Digital Network standard.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network, in operation, transmits data in a packet format.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the packet format conforms to an Internet Protocol.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second device comprises:
a media gateway.
8. A network comprising:
a media gateway; and
a trunking gateway coupled to the media gateway, the trunking gateway comprising
circuitry that suppresses communications over an established communications link between the trunking gateway and the media gateway during a first state of operation, wherein the first state of operation comprises an on-hook state when the established communications link exists between the trunking gateway and the media gateway;
a port to receive a telephone service-related signal during the first state of operation, wherein the telephone service-related signal that is other than a voice signal includes a caller identification signal, and
circuitry to suspend the suppression of communications over the communications link in response to receiving the telephone service-related signal that is other than the voice signal and to transmit the telephone service-related signal to the media gateway.
9. The network of claim 8 , wherein the circuitry to suppress communications comprises:
circuitry to detect signal energy.
10. The network of claim 9 , wherein the circuitry to detect signal energy comprises:
a voice activity detector.
11. The network of claim 9 , wherein the telephone service-related signal comprises:
at least one of a visual message waiting indicator on signal, a visual message waiting indicator off signal, and a B-channel transmission that conforms to an Integrated Services Digital Network standard.
12. The network of claim 8 , wherein the network, in operation, transmits data in a packet format.
13. The network of claim 12 , wherein the packet format conforms to an Internet Protocol.
14. A method comprising:
suppressing communications over an established communications link between a first device, wherein the first device is a trunking gateway and a second device during a first state of operation, wherein the first state of operation comprises an on-hook state when the established communications link exists between the first device and the second device, and wherein the first device and the second device are coupled to a network;
receiving a telephone service-related signal at the first device during the first state of operation, wherein the telephone service-related signal that is other than a voice signal includes a caller identification signal;
ceasing the suppression of communications over the communications link in response to receiving the telephone service-related signal that is other than the voice signal; and
transmitting the signal to the second device.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
after transmitting, resuming suppression of communications.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein receiving comprises:
detecting energy of the signal.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein transmitting comprises:
propagating at least one packet across the network.