U.S. patent application number 09/808479 was filed with the patent office on 2001-07-26 for multi-function coding element and an associated telecommunications network.
Invention is credited to Fisher, Kent, Lauson, David, Lewis, Larry D., Mizell, Jerry L..
Application Number | 20010009860 09/808479 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22278961 |
Filed Date | 2001-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010009860 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mizell, Jerry L. ; et
al. |
July 26, 2001 |
Multi-function coding element and an associated telecommunications
network
Abstract
A wireless telecommunications network includes a base station
controller which includes a call control resource manager and a
multi-function coding element embodied within a DSP and comprised
of first, second and third coding resources, each embodied as a
software module, for respectively performing D/A and A/D on voice,
facsimile and data messages. When transferring messages from a
mobile terminal to an MSC via the base station controller, the
mobile terminal first informs the base station controller whether
the message is a voice, facsimile or data message. The mobile
terminal then transfers the message to the call control resource
manager residing within the base station controller. Based upon the
indicated message type, the call control resource manager selects,
from the first, second and third coding resources, a resource for
performing a D/A conversion of the message received from the mobile
terminal. After the selected resource performs the D/A conversion
of the received message, the call control resource manager
transfers the converted message to the MSC. Conversely, when
transferring messages from the MSC to a selected mobile terminal
via the base station controller, the MSC informs the base station
controller whether the message is a voice, facsimile or data
message. The MSC then transfers the message to the call control
resource manager. Based upon the indicated message type, the call
control resource manager selects one of the first, second and third
coding resources to perform an A/D conversion of the received
message. The call control resource manager will then transfer the
converted message to the selected mobile terminal.
Inventors: |
Mizell, Jerry L.; (Plano,
TX) ; Lauson, David; (Allen, TX) ; Fisher,
Kent; (Rowlett, TX) ; Lewis, Larry D.;
(Garland, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Haynes and Boone LLP
Suite 3100
901 Main Street
Dallas
TX
75202-3789
US
|
Family ID: |
22278961 |
Appl. No.: |
09/808479 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09808479 |
Mar 14, 2001 |
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09100277 |
Jun 19, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/560 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 88/181
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/560 |
International
Class: |
H04B 001/38 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A base station controller, comprising: a call control resource
manager, said call control resource manager controlling exchanges
of messages between at least one mobile terminal and a mobile
switching center ("MSC"); a first coding resource associated with
said call control resource manager, said first coding resource
performing digital-to-analog ("D/A") and analog-to-digital ("A/D")
conversions for a first message type; and a second coding resource
associated with said call control resource manager, said second
coding resource performing D/A and A/D conversions for a second
message type.
2. The base station controller of claim 1 and further comprising a
third coding resource associated with said call control resource
manager, said third coding resource performing D/A and A/D
conversions for a third message type.
3. The base station controller of claim 2 wherein said first
message type is voice, said second message type is facsimile and
said third message type is data.
4. The base station controller of claim 1 wherein said first and
second coding resources are first and second software modules which
reside on a multi-function coding element coupled to said call
control resource manager.
5. The base station controller of claim 4 wherein said
multi-function coding element is embodied within a digital signal
processor ("DSP").
6. The base station controller of claim 1 wherein said call control
resource manager further comprises: means for receiving digital
messages of said first and second types from said at least one
mobile terminal; means for determining said message type for each
received digital message; means for calling, for each received
digital message, a selected one of said coding resources to perform
a D/A conversion thereon; and means for transmitting said converted
analog messages to said MSG.
7. The base station controller of claim 6 wherein said call control
resource manager further comprises: means for receiving analog
messages of said first and second types from said MSC; means for
determining said message type for each received analog message;
means for calling, for each received analog message, a selected one
of said coding resources to perform an A/D conversion thereon; and
means for transmitting said converted digital messages to a
selected one of said at least one mobile terminal.
8. A telecommunications network, comprising: a first mobile
terminal, said first mobile terminal configured for transmitting
and receiving digital messages in at least one of voice, facsimile
and data modes; a second mobile terminal, said second mobile
terminal configured for transmitting and receiving digital messages
in at least one of said voice, facsimile and data modes; a base
station controller, said base station controller coupled to said
first and second mobile terminals by respective airlinks; and an
MSC coupled to the base station controller, said MSC configured for
transmitting analog messages to, and receiving analog messages
from, said base station controller in each of said voice, facsimile
and data modes; said base station controller including a
multi-function coding element for: (a) converting digital voice
messages into analog voice messages; (b) converting analog voice
messages into digital voice messages; (c) converting digital
facsimile messages into analog facsimile messages; (d) converting
analog facsimile messages into digital facsimile messages; (e)
converting digital data messages into analog data messages; and (f)
converting analog data messages into digital data messages.
9. The telecommunications network of claim 8 wherein said
multi-function coding element further comprises: a first software
module for performing conversions on voice messages; a second
software module for performing conversions on facsimile messages;
and a third software module for performing conversions on data
messages
10. The telecommunications network of claim 9 wherein said base
station controller further comprises: a call control resource
module residing on said base station controller, said call control
resource module associated with each of said first, second and
third software modules and controlling: (a) transmissions of
messages between said first mobile terminal and said MSC; (b)
transmissions of messages between said second mobile terminal and
said MSC; and (c) calls to said first, second and third software to
perform conversions on voice, facsimile and data messages.
11. The telecommunications network of claim 10 wherein said first
mobile terminal is configured to operate in said voice mode and
said second mobile terminal is configured to operate in said
facsimile mode.
12. The telecommunications network of claim 10 wherein said first
mobile terminal is a multi-function terminal capable of operating
in either said voice mode, said facsimile mode or said data
mode.
13. For a wireless telecommunications system, a method for
transferring a message from a mobile terminal to a mobile switching
center ("MSC") via a base station controller, said method
comprising the steps of: said mobile terminal informing said base
station controller of a message type for said message; said mobile
terminal transferring said message to a call control resource
manager residing within said base station controller; said call
control resource manager selecting, from at least two resources
residing within said base station controller, a resource for
performing a digital-to-analog ("D/A") conversion of said message
received from said mobile terminal; said call control resource
manager selecting said resource based upon said message type of
said received message; said selected resource performing said D/A
conversion of said received message; and said call control resource
manager transferring said converted message to said MSC.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said at least two resources
residing within said base station controller further comprises: a
first resource for performing D/A conversions on a first type of
message; a second resource for performing D/A conversions on a
second type of message; and a third resource for performing D/A
conversions on a third type of message; wherein said first type of
message is a voice message, said second type of message is a
facsimile message and said third type of message is a data
message.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of said call control
resource manager selecting, from at least two resources residing
within said base station controller, a resource for performing a
digital-to-analog ("D/A") conversion of said message received from
said mobile terminal further comprises the steps of: said call
control resource manager selecting said first resource to perform
said D/A conversion of said received message if said received
message is a data message; said call control resource manager
selecting said second resource to perform said D/A conversion of
said received message if said received message is a facsimile
message; and said call control resource manager selecting said
third resource to perform said D/A conversion of said received
message if said received message is a data message.
16. For a wireless telecommunications system, a method for
transferring a message from a mobile switching center ("MSC") to a
mobile terminal via a base station controller, said method
comprising the steps of: said MSC informing said base station
controller of a message type for said message; said MSC
transferring said message to a call control resource manager
residing within said base station controller; said call control
resource manager selecting, from at least two resources residing
within said base station controller, a resource for performing an
analog-to-digital ("A/D") conversion of said message received from
said MSC; said call control resource manager selecting said
resource based upon said message type of said received message;
said selected resource performing said A/D conversion of said
received message; and said call control resource manager
transferring said converted message to said mobile terminal.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least two resources
residing within said base station controller further comprises: a
first resource for performing A/D conversions on a first type of
message; a second resource for performing A/D conversions on a
second type of message; and a third resource for performing A/D
conversions on a third type of message; wherein said first type of
message is a voice message, said second type of message is a
facsimile message and said third type of message is a data
message.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of said call control
resource manager selecting, from at least two resources residing
within said base station controller, a resource for performing an
analog-to-digital ("A/D") conversion of said message received from
said MSC further comprises the steps of: said call control resource
manager selecting said first resource to perform said A/D
conversion of said received message if said received message is a
data message; said call control resource manager selecting said
second resource to perform said A/D conversion of said received
message if said received message is a facsimile message; and said
call control resource manager selecting said third resource to
perform said A/D conversion of said received message if said
received message is a data message.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates generally to telecommunication
networks and, more particularly, to a multi-function coding element
which performs voice, fax and data coding and is suitable for use
in an associated telecommunications network
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 10 designates a
conventional telecommunications network 10. As illustrated herein,
the telecommunications network 10 includes a wireless system, for
example, a cellular network and a wireline system, for example, the
public switched telephone network ("PSTN"). The wireless system of
the telecommunications network 10 further includes a mobile
terminal. As illustrated herein, the mobile terminal 12 is a
voice/fax/data terminal capable of operating in first, second and
third modes in which voice, facsimile and data messages may be
respectively transmitted or received.
[0003] The wireless system of the telecommunications network 10
also includes a base station 13 to which the mobile terminal 12 is
coupled by an airlink. The base station 13 includes a base station
controller 14 configured to transmit voice, fax and data messages
to, and receive voice, fax and data messages from, the mobile
terminal 12. While the wireless system illustrated in FIG. 1 shows
a sole base station 13, it should be clearly understood that
wireless systems typically include plural base stations, each
having a base station controller incorporated therein. The base
station controller 14 includes a voice coding ("vocoder") element
16 which performs digital-to-analog ("D/A") conversions on packets
of digital voice data to produce analog voice tones. The vocoder
element 16 also performs analog-to-digital ("A/D") conversions on
analog voice tones to produce packets of digital voice data. More
specifically, when set to operate in voice mode, the mobile
terminal 12 will first advise the base station controller 12 to
prepare to receive a voice message. The mobile terminal 12 will
then transmit packets of digital voice data to the base station
controller 34. There, the vocoder element 16 converts the received
packets of digital voice data into analog voice tones for
transmission to a mobile switching center ("MSC") 20 coupled
thereto. The vocoder element 16 may be embodied within a digital
signal processor ("DSP") which performs the D/A and A/D conversions
of digital voice data and analog voice tones in accordance with
respective sequences of instructions maintained thereby.
[0004] The MSC 20 directs the received analog voice tones to its
destination which, for example, may be a second wireless terminal
(not shown) coupled to the MSC 20, a wireless terminal coupled to a
second MSC (also not shown), or, as illustrated herein, to a
wireline terminal 26 located within the PSTN and coupled to the MSC
20 by an interexchange carrier (or "IXC") 22 and a local exchange
carrier (or "LEC") 24. As illustrated herein, the wireline terminal
26, like the mobile terminal 12, is a multi-mode terminal
configured to transmit and receive voice, fax and data messages.
Furthermore, while the wireline terminal 26 is shown as the
destination of the voice signal originating at the mobile terminal
12, it should be further understood that the analog voice signal
may be directed via other IXCs (not shown) and LECs (also not
shown) of the PSTN to any of the multitude of wireline terminals
included as part of the PSTN.
[0005] When set to operate in fax or data mode, the mobile terminal
12 will advise the base station controller 14 to prepare to receive
a fax or data message. The mobile terminal 12 will then transmit
either a digital facsimile message or a digital data message to the
base station controller 14. In turn, the base station controller 14
transfers the received digital fax or digital data message to an
interworking function ("IWF") 18 which is coupled to the base
station controller 14 and the MSC 20 and may be embodied as a DSP.
If the IWF 18 receives packets of digital fax data from the base
station controller 14, the IWF 18 converts the received digital fax
data into analog modem tones. If, however, the IWF 18 receives a
stream of digital data from the base station controller 14, the IWF
18 converts the received stream of digital data into an analog
stream of digital data. The IWF 18 then passes the converted analog
modem tones or analog data stream on to the MSC 20 where the
message is handled in the manner previously described.
[0006] Voice, fax and data messages originating elsewhere on the
telecommunications network 10 and having, as its destination, the
mobile terminal 12, are handled in a reverse manner. Specifically,
upon receiving analog voice tones destined for the mobile terminal
12 or other mobile terminal coupled to the base station controller
14, the MSC 20 will transmit the analog voice tones to the base
station controller 14 where the vocoder element 16 will convert the
analog voice tones signal into digital form. The resultant digital
voice data produced thereby is then forwarded by the base station
controller 14 to the mobile terminal 12. Conversely, when the MSC
20 receives analog modem tones or an analog data stream which
originated elsewhere on the telecommunications network 10 and has,
as its destination, the mobile terminal 12, the MSC 20 transfers
the receive analog modem tones or analog data stream to the IWF 18
for conversion into digital format. After converting the received
information into digital format, the IWF 18 transmits the resultant
digital signal to the mobile terminal 12 via the base station
controller 14
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a
base station controller which includes a call control resource
manager, a first coding resource and a second coding resource. The
call control resource manager controls exchanges of messages
between at least one mobile terminal and a mobile switching center
("MSC"). The first coding resource performs digital-to-analog
("D/A") and analog-to-digital ("A/D") conversions for a first
message type while the second coding resource performs D/A and A/D
conversions for a second message type. In one aspect thereof, the
base station controller may also include a third coding resource
which performs D/A and A/D conversions for a third message type
and, in a further aspect thereof, the first, second and third
message types may be voice, facsimile and data, respectively. The
coding resources may be embodied as software modules which reside
on a multi-function coding element, which itself may be embodied as
a digital signal processor.
[0008] In still further aspects of this embodiment, as well as in
other embodiments thereof, the call control resource manager may
receive digital messages from the mobile terminal, determine the
message type for that digital message, call a selected one of the
coding resources to perform a D/A conversion on the message and
transmit the converted analog message to the MSC. The call control
resource manager may also receive analog messages from the MSC,
determine the message type for that analog message, call a selected
one of the coding resources to perform an A/D conversion on the
message and transmit the converted digital message to a selected
mobile terminal.
[0009] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to
a telecommunications network which includes first and second mobile
terminals, each configured for transmission and receipt of digital
messages in at least one of voice, facsimile and data modes, a base
station controller coupled to the first and second mobile terminals
by respective airlinks and an MSC configured for transmitting
analog messages to, and receiving analog messages from, the base
station controller in each of the voice, facsimile and data modes.
The base station controller includes a multi-function coding
element which converts digital voice messages into analog voice
messages, analog voice messages into digital voice messages,
digital facsimile messages into analog facsimile messages, analog
facsimile messages into digital facsimile messages, digital data
messages into analog data messages and analog data messages into
digital data messages. The multi-function coding element may be
comprised of plural software modules, each for performing the
above-listed conversions for a particular type of message while the
base station controller may include a call control resource module
which controls transmissions of messages between the first mobile
terminal and the MSC, transmissions of messages between the second
mobile terminal and the MSC and calls to the first, second and
third software modules to perform conversions on voice, facsimile
and data messages, respectively.
[0010] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to
a method for transferring a message from a mobile terminal to an
MSC via a base station controller. In accordance with this
embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminal first informs the
base station controller of a message type for the message. After
informing the base station controller of the message type, the
mobile terminal transfers the message to a call control resource
manager residing within the base station controller. Based upon the
message type of the received message, the call control resource
manager selects, from at least two resources residing within the
base station controller, a resource for performing a D/A conversion
of the message received from the mobile terminal. After the
selected resource performs the D/A conversion of the received
message, the call control resource manager transfers the converted
message to the MSC. In related aspects of this embodiment, a first
resource is selected for D/A conversions of voice messages, a
second resource is selected for D/A conversions of facsimile
messages and a third resource is selected for D/A conversions of
data messages.
[0011] In still another embodiment, the present invention is
directed to a method for transferring a message from an MSC to a
mobile terminal via a base station controller. In accordance with
this embodiment of the invention, the MSC first informs the base
station controller of a message type for the message. After
informing the base station controller of the message type, the MSC
transfers the message to a call control resource manager residing
within the base station controller. Based upon the message type of
the received message, the call control resource manager selects,
from at least two resources residing within the base station
controller, a resource for performing an A/D conversion of the
message received from the mobile terminal. After the selected
resource performs the A/D conversion of the received message, the
call control resource manager transfers the converted message to
the mobile terminal. In related aspects of this embodiment, a first
resource is selected for A/D conversions of voice messages, a
second resource is selected for A/D conversions of facsimile
messages and a third resource is selected for A/D conversions of
data messages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional
telecommunications network.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a telecommunications network
constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention and having a multi-function coding element incorporated
therein.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method of coding voice, fax and
data signals within a base station controller forming part of the
telecommunications network of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] Turning now to the drawings, in FIG. 2, the reference
numeral 28 denotes a telecommunications network 10 constructed in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention and
incorporating a multi-function coding element 36 within a base
station controller 32 of a base station 31. The telecommunications
network 28 includes both wireless and wireline portions.
Alternately, the wireless portion may be either a cellular or
personal communication service ("PCS") system while the wireline
portion may be the PSTN. Of course, the telecommunications network
may further include plural wireless systems of the aforementioned
or other types as well as additional wireline systems, for example,
private networks.
[0016] As may now be seen, the base station controller 32 of the
base station 31 includes a call control resource manager (or
"CCRM") 34 which handles the transfer of voice, fax and data
signals between a mobile terminal 30 and an MSC 44. Preferably, the
CCRM 34 is a software module which resides within the base station
31 and is executable by the base station controller 32. The base
station controller 32 also includes a multi-function coding element
36 which, as will be more fully described below, performs D/A and
A/D conversions on voice, fax and data messages received by the
base station controller 32. The multi-function coding element 36
may be embodied within a DSP forming part of the base station
controller 32. The multi-function coding element 36 includes first,
second and third software modules 38, 40 and 42, each of which,
like the CCRM 34, preferably reside within the base station 31 and
are executable by the DSP or other processor in which the
multi-function coding element 36 is embodied. Of course, it is
entirely contemplated that the CCRM 34, first software module 38,
second software module 40 and third software module 42 may all be
stored in a common memory subsystem for the base station controller
31 and be executable by a common processor subsystem for the base
station controller 31. The first (or "V") software module 38
contains code necessary to perform D/A and A/D conversions of voice
messages. The second (or "F") software module 40 contains code
necessary to perform D/A and A/D conversions of facsimile messages.
Finally, the third (or "D") software module 42 contains code
necessary to perform D/A and A/D conversions of data messages.
[0017] The mobile terminal 30 is a multi-function terminal
configured to operate in voice, facsimile and data modes. For
example, the mobile terminal 30 may include a selector switch
which, when set to "voice", will allow an operator of the mobile
terminal 30 to conduct a conversation with an operator of a
destination terminal. Conversely, when the selector switch is set
to "facsimile", the operator is capable of sending a fax to a
destination terminal and, when the selector switch is set to
"data", the operator is capable of sending E-Mail and other data
transfers to a destination terminal. Of course, the use of a
multi-mode device as the mobile terminal 30 is purely exemplary and
the invention is equally suitable for use in a telecommunications
network where wireless mobile or wireline terminals, configured for
operation in a single mode, operate as one or more of originating
and destination terminals for a connection to be established.
[0018] Referring next to FIG. 3, the method of coding an incoming
message will now be described in greater detail. The method
commences at step 52 and, at step 54, a determination is made as to
the type of message incoming to the base station controller 32.
When establishing a connection between the mobile terminal 30 and a
destination terminal, for example, a multi-mode wireline terminal
50 coupled to MSC 44 by IXC 46 and LEC 48, the mobile terminal 30
first issues a request for connection to the base station
controller 34. The initial request will include a variety of
information regarding the mobile terminal 30, including the type of
message--voice, facsimile or data--to be transmitted thereby.
Conversely, if the originating terminal is the wireline terminal 50
and the destination terminal is the mobile terminal 30, the initial
request for connection will originate at the LEC 48, from where it
will proceed to the IXC 46, the MSC 44 and on to the base station
controller 32.
[0019] Whether originating at the mobile terminal 20 or the MSC 44,
the request for connection is received, within the base station
controller 32, by the CCRM module 34. The CCRM module 34 analyzes
the received request to determine whether the type of connection
requested is for the transfer of voice, facsimile or data messages.
If the CCRM module 34 determines that the received request
indicates that the message to follow will be a voice message, the
method proceeds to step 56 where the CCRM module 34 selects the
voice resource 38 to perform either a D/A or an A/D conversion of
the received message. If, however, the CCRM module 34 determines at
step 54 that the message to follow will be a facsimile message, the
method will instead proceed to step 58 where the CCRM module 34
selects the facsimile resource 40 to perform either a D/A or an A/D
conversion of the received message. Finally, if the CCRM module 34
determines at step 54 that the message to follow will be a data
message, the method will instead proceed to step 60 where the CCRM
module 34 selects the data resource 42 to perform either a D/A or
an A/D conversion of the received message.
[0020] Whether the voice resource 38 is selected at step 56, the
facsimile resource 40 is selected at step 58 or the data resource
42 is selected at step 60, the method then proceeds to step 62
where coding is performed using the selected resource. More
specifically, if the message is originating at the mobile terminal
30, at step 62, the CCRM module 34 will first receive a digital
message from the mobile terminal 30. As previously stated, the
digital message may either be a voice, facsimile or data message.
If the received digital message is a voice message, at step 62, the
voice coding resource 38 converts the received digital data
message, typically packets of digital voice data into analog voice
message, typically, analog voice tones. Conversely, if the received
digital message is a facsimile message, at step 62, the facsimile
coding resource 40 converts the received digital facsimile message,
typically packets of digital facsimile data, into an analog
facsimile message, typically analog facsimile tones. Finally, if
the received digital message is a data message, at step 62, the
data coding resource 42 converts the received digital data message,
typically, a stream of digital data into an analog data message,
typically a stream of analog data.
[0021] If, however, the message is originating at the wireline
terminal 50, at step 62, the CCRM module 34 will first receive an
analog message from the MSC 44. As previously stated, the analog
message may either be a voice, facsimile or data message. If the
received analog message is a voice message, at step 62, the voice
coding resource 38 converts the received analog voice message into
a digital voice message. Conversely, if the received analog message
is a facsimile message, at step 62, the facsimile coding resource
40 converts the received analog facsimile message into a digital
facsimile message. Finally, if the received analog message is a
data message, at step 62, the data coding resource 42 converts the
received analog data message into a digital data message.
[0022] The method then ends at step 64 by the CCRM module 34
transferring the converted message to its destination terminal. For
example, if the received message was either an analog voice, analog
facsimile or analog data message originating at the wireline
terminal 50 and received, by the CCRM module 34, from the MSC 44,
the converted digital voice, digital facsimile or digital data
message would be transferred from the CCRM module 34 to its final
destination, the mobile terminal 20. If, on the other hand, the
received message was either a digital voice, digital facsimile or
digital data message received, by the CCRM module 34, from the
mobile terminal 30, the converted analog voice, analog facsimile or
analog data would be transferred from the CCRM module 34 to the MSC
44. From there, it would be transferred to its final destination,
for example, the wireline terminal 50.
[0023] Thus, there has been described and illustrated herein, a
telecommunications network characterized by incorporation, within
the base station controller thereof, a multi-function coding
element capable of performing D/A and A/D conversions for voice,
data and facsimile messages. By enabling the operation of voice,
facsimile and data coding within a common network element, the
present invention more efficiently uses network resources.
Furthermore, cost savings will be achieved by the elimination of
hardware resources dedicated to data and facsimile transmissions.
However, those skilled in the art should recognize that, although
illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described, other modifications, changes, and substitutions are
intended in the foregoing disclosure. For example, while the
disclosed embodiment of the invention discloses combined
wireless/wireline systems as the telecommunications network, an MSC
and an IXC as switching nodes for the respective wireless and
wireline systems, a multi-mode voice/facsimile/data mobile terminal
and a multi-mode voice/facsimile/data wireline terminal as the
endpoints of the connection, it should be clearly understood that
the disclosed embodiment is purely exemplary and that the invention
is equally suitable for use in conjunction with other types of
telecommunications networks, switching nodes and/or terminals. For
example, it is contemplated that the endpoints of the connection
may be first and second mobile terminals, each configured to
operate is a single mode such as voice. It should be further
understood that, for the disclosed embodiment of the invention,
that the various components of the telecommunications network 28
have been greatly simplified and that various components thereof
have been omitted for ease of illustration. Finally, the foregoing
disclosure discloses three message types--voice, facsimile and
data--for which coding resources have been dedicated. It is fully
contemplated, however, that resources may be dedicated to perform
similar conversions for other types of messages. Accordingly, it is
appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a
manner consistent with the scope of the invention.
* * * * *