Systems and methods for providing a network conversion interface
View Patent ↗Systems and methods are provided wherein an incoming plain old telephone systems (PSTN) signal is input into a network conversion interface. The network conversion interface first determines the data type of the incoming signal. Next, the network conversion interface creates a routing sequence of the incoming signal based on the determined data type. Finally, the network conversion interface converts the incoming signal into an 802.X format and sends the signal to an appropriate IP device based on the determined signal type. Should the network conversion interface lose electrical power, a drop contactor routes the incoming signal directly to an analog device without creating a routing sequence or performing an 802.X conversion.
1. A system comprising:
an input/output interface communicatively linked and in communication with a plurality of devices;
a smart router configured to:
receive an analog signal;
send a ring signal to each of the plurality of devices;
detect that one of the plurality of devices has been placed in an off-hook condition;
determine whether the off-hook device is a digital device or an analog device;
if the off-hook device is a digital device, route the analog signal to an analog-to-digital converter; and
if the off-hook device is an analog device, send the analog signal to the off-hook device;
the analog-to-digital converter configured to:
receive the analog signal from the smart router;
convert the analog signal to a digital signal; and
send the digital signal to a packet builder;
the packet builder configured to:
receive the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter;
format the digital signal into a packet-based 802.X signal; and
send the digital signal to the smart router for routing the packet-based 802.x signal to the off-hook device.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a drop contactor configured to route the analog signal to any of the plurality of devices that are analog devices when a loss of electrical power is detected.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a protocol parser configured to assure compliance of the packet-based 802.X signal with the off-hook device.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the analog signal is received from a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
5. A system comprising:
an input/output interface communicatively linked and in communication with a plurality of devices;
an analog-to-digital converter;
a packet builder;
a smart router configured to:
receive an analog signal;
determine a data type of the analog signal;
determine which of a plurality of routing sequences to use based upon the determined data type; and
if the data type is intended for an analog device, route the analog signal to at least one of the plurality of devices that is analog according to the determined routing sequence;
if the data type is intended for a digital device, route the analog signal to the analog-to-digital converter according to the determined routing sequence;
the analog-to-digital converter configured to:
receive the analog signal from the smart router;
convert the analog signal to a digital signal; and
send the digital signal to the packet builder;
the packet builder configured to:
receive the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter;
format the digital signal into a packet-based 802.x signal; and
send the digital signal to the smart router for routing the packet-based 802.X signal to at least one of the plurality of devices that is digital according to the determined routing sequence.
6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a memory configured to store the plurality of routing sequences.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the smart router is further configured to determine which of a plurality of routing sequences to use, based upon the determined data type and settings stored in the memory.
8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the smart router is further configured to determine the data type of the analog signal based upon standard ring tones.
9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the smart router is further configured to determine the data type of the analog signal.
10. The system of claim 5 , wherein the data type is one of a fax format, a data format, and a voice format.
11. The system of claim 5 , wherein the analog signal is received from a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
12. The system of claim 5 , wherein sending the formatted digital signal to the smart router for routing comprises sending the formatted digital signal to the at least one digital device based upon the at least one digital device being placed in an off-hook condition.
13. A method comprising:
using an input/output interface to communicate with a plurality of devices;
using a smart router to:
receive an analog signal;
send a ring signal to each of the plurality of devices;
detect that one of the plurality of devices has been placed in an off-hook condition;
determine whether the off-hook device is a digital device or an analog device;
if the off-hook device is a digital device, route the analog signal to an analog-to-digital converter; and
if the off-hook device is an analog device, send the analog signal to the off-hook device;
using an analog-to-digital converter configured to:
receive the analog signal from the smart router;
convert the analog signal to a digital signal; and
send the digital signal to a packet builder; and
using the packet builder to:
receive the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter;
format the digital signal into a packet-based 802.X signal; and
send the digital signal to the smart router for routing the packet-based 802.x signal to the off-hook device.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
when a loss of electrical power is detected, using a drop contactor to route the analog signal to any of the plurality of devices that are analog devices.
15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
using a protocol parser to assure compliance of the packet-based 802.X signal with the off-hook device.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein:
the analog signal is received from a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
17. A method comprising:
using an input/output interface to communicate with a plurality of devices;
using a smart router to:
receive an analog signal;
determine a data type of the analog signal;
determine which of a plurality of routing sequences to use based upon the determined data type; and
if the data type is intended for an analog device, route the analog signal to at least one of the plurality of devices that is analog according to the determined routing sequence;
if the data type is intended for a digital device, route the analog signal to an analog-to-digital converter according to the determined routing sequence;
using the analog-to-digital converter to:
receive the analog signal from the smart router;
convert the analog signal to a digital signal; and
send the digital signal to a packet builder;
using the packet builder to:
receive the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter;
format the digital signal into a packet-based 802.x signal; and
send the digital signal to the smart router for routing the packet-based 802.X signal to at least one of the plurality of devices that is digital, according to the determined routing sequence.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
using a memory to store the plurality of routing sequences.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:
using the smart router is further to determine which of the plurality of routing sequences to use, based upon the determined data type and settings stored in the memory.
20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
using the smart router to determine the data type of the analog signal based upon standard ring tones.
21. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
using the smart router to determine the data type of the analog signal.
22. The method of claim 17 wherein:
the data type is one of a fax format, a data format, and a voice format.
23. The method of claim 17 wherein:
the analog signal is received from a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
24. The method of claim 17 wherein:
using the smart router comprises sending the packet-based 802.X signal to the at least one digital device based upon the at least one digital device being placed in an off-hook condition.