Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur in
multiple modes/protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and
methods are provided for multiple native mode/protocol voice and data
transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus
structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and
multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem
functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub
and data router. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are
intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple
mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed
and controlled with a single, integrated system. A computer or other
processor includes a local area network controller, which provides
routing and hub(s) for one or more packet networks. The computer also is
coupled to a buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from
the computer from TDM bus. The buffer/framer includes a plurality of
framer/deframer engines, supporting, for example, ATM and HDLC
framing/deframing. The buffer/framer is coupled to the TDM bus by way of
a switch/multiplexer, which includes the capability to intelligently map
data traffic between the buffer/framer and the TDM bus to various slots
of the TDM frames. Preferably, a DSP pool is coupled to buffer/framer in
a manner to provide various signal processing and telecommunications
support, such as dial tone generation, DTMF detection and the like. The
TDM bus is coupled to a various line/station cards, serving to interface
the TDM bus with telephone, facsimiles and other telecommunication
devices, and also with a various digital and/or analog WAN network
services. Language support for such systems is accomplished by way of a
program/data structure so that additional language support may be readily
implemented, for example, by a non-software programmer using grammar and
voice prompt files, which are preferably located in a predetermined
directory in the system.