Data communications method and apparatus

• Main Author: Höller, Jan
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.04.2004

This invention relates generally to the packetization of data streams. More particularly, this invention relates to packetizing voice signals and transporting the packetized voice signals using Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) after having multiplexed the packetized voice signals from several sources into the same ATM cell. There are voice signals from at least two voice sources which are multiplexed by an ATM Adaptation Layer 2 multiplexer (AAL2 MUX) into the same ATM connection after having been processed by a packetizing device, such that the AAL2 WX is presented with assembled AAL2 packets of a suitable periodicity. If the voice data signals are to be compressed, the packetizing device includes an encoder of a suitable voice codec, e.g. ADPCM, GSM, LD-CELP or CS-ACELP. The voice encoders may also include devices for silence removal. The packetizing device further includes a packetizer, either separated from the voice encoder, or as a part thereof. The packet releases from the packetizing device are synchronized to occur virtually simultaneously. In this way, the released packets from the packetizing device arrive almost simultaneously at the AAL2 MUX, with the result that an ATM cell may be filled with AAL2 packets well before the expiration of the timer of the AAL2 MUX.