Systems and methods for voice and data communications including a network drop and insert interface for an external data routing resource

Abstract

Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus. An integrated communication system is coupled to a digital telecommunications link, the communication system providing voice and data communications to a plurality of users. At least a first packet bus is coupled to one or more packet-based devices and adapted for transferring packetized data to and from the system. One or more time division multiplex (TDM) buses are coupled to one or more telephony devices. Data routing resources are provided internal to the integrated system. A network interface module couples data to and from a data router external to the integrated system. The data router external to the integrated system is coupled to the first packet bus. Data is routed via the external data router through the network interface module and coupled to data channels of the digital telecommunications link, while voice data is selectively coupled to voice channels of the digital telecommunications link.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . An integrated communication system coupled to a digital telecommunications link having voice and data channels, comprising:
 a first bus adapted for transferring data communications to and from the integrated communication system;   a second bus adapted for transferring voice communications to and from the integrated communication system;   switching/routing circuitry internal to the integrated communication system; and   a network interface module, wherein the network interface module couples the data communications to and from a LAN equipment external to the integrated communication system via the first bus;   wherein the data communications are coupled via the switching/routing circuitry to a first set of one or more channels of the digital telecommunications link, wherein the voice communications are coupled via the switching/routing circuitry to a second set of one or more channels of the digital telecommunications link; and   wherein the voice communications and the data communications are provided to a plurality of users.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital telecommunications link is a T-1 link. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital telecommunications link is a time division multiplexed (TDM) link. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first bus is adapted to intercommunicate with an Ethernet network. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the second bus is adapted to intercommunicate with a WAN network. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the LAN equipment is a router. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at a first point in time, the integrated communication system transfers data communications via the first set of one or more channels of the digital telecommunications link;   at a second point in time the integrated communication system detects a problem, wherein after the second point in time the switching/routing circuitry determines an alternate pathway for the data communications.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the problem is detected via packets received by the integrated communications system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the problem is detected via SNMP packets received by the integrated communications system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the problem comprises a fail-over scenario. 
     
     
         13 . A method for operating an integrated communication system coupled to a digital telecommunications link having voice and data channels, comprising:
 providing a first bus adapted for transferring data communications to and from the integrated communication system;   providing a second bus adapted for transferring voice communications to and from the integrated communication system;   providing switching/routing circuitry internal to the integrated communication system; and   providing a network interface module, wherein the network interface module couples the data communications to and from a LAN equipment external to the integrated communication system via the first bus;   wherein the data communications are coupled via the switching/routing circuitry to a first set of one or more channels of the digital telecommunications link, wherein the voice communications are coupled via the switching/routing circuitry to a second set of one or more channels of the digital telecommunications link; and   wherein the voice communications and the data communications are provided to a plurality of users.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the digital telecommunications link is a T-1 link. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the digital telecommunications link is a time division multiplexed (TDM) link. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first bus is adapted to intercommunicate with an Ethernet network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second bus is adapted to intercommunicate with a WAN network. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the LAN equipment is a router. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 at a first point in time, the integrated communication system transfers data communications via the first set of one or more channels of the digital telecommunications link;   at a second point in time the integrated communication system detects a problem, wherein after the second point in time the switching/routing circuitry determines an alternate pathway for the data communications.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the problem is detected via packets received by the integrated communications system. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the problem is detected via SNMP packets received by the integrated communications system. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the problem comprises a fail-over scenario.