Soft chip modem

The present invention is a continuation of provisional patent application No. 60/405,508 filed Aug. 26, 2002.

Handel-C was developed at Oxford University's Computing Laboratory and will allow electronic devices to be instantly programmed and indefinitely reprogrammed to perform any number of different functions. Its novel “software compiler” system operates in conjunction with a new generation of FPGA, or Field Programmable Gate Array<chips. A microprocessor has a fixed number of functions that cannot be altered after manufacture. FPGA chips posses an almost limitless range of functions and flexibility.

The SoftChip modem incorporates Handel-C, an ultra-fast programming language, designed around a simple timing model that makes it very accessible to system architects and software engineers. The SoftChip modem functions as a line splitter, can be reprogrammed as needed verses re-engineered, provides new functionality via software downloads, on analog lines as well as cable, satellite and fiber lines. This is not a temporary interruption, to provide service, but simultaneous use of the line.

FIG. 1 ; a flow chart illustrating and embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 ; a block diagram illustrating the present invention.

The attached flow chart and block design describes the Soft Chip modem aimed to provide the simultaneous transmission of two, or more, speech or data calls and to provide flexible deployment of value added services implemented on plain old telephone service (POTS) lines.

To provide simultaneous transmission of two or more speech or data calls conventional analog voice traffic is compressed to occupy less bandwidth, thus freeing up the remaining bandwidth for additional voice or data traffic. A speech compression algorithm that provides sufficient quality of sound and requires only between 5.6 and 6.4 kbps of bandwidth is embedded within the SoftChip system.

To provide flexible deployment of value added services implemented on phone connections, the SoftChip modem incorporates Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) chips, hosting downloadable logic.

The SoftChip system is connected to a conventional copper line by an internal COTS modem. This would support two speech calls plus protocol overhead and be implemented as a plug-in board with a common interface that can be used for more powerful modems including digital ISDN and ADSL.

In one embodiment, a pair of SoftChip modems is used, one at each end of the analog link; the first compresses and multiplexes the data at the source end of the line, the second de-multiplexes and expands the data at the exchange end of the copper link.

FIG. 1 shows the SoftChip modem of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a modem COTS V. 3428.8 KBPS (upgradeable to V 90 56 KBPS or higher as a plug in device.

The modem goes to a fixed logic system which multiplexes or demultiplexes data. It can add protocol layers as TCP/IP and H.323 to use as into an IP phone. The fixed logic system then can flow into a variable logic system. The functionality can be downloaded via modem. The functionality is organized as sequential components in a data processing stream. Component algorithms are as follows: encode/decode based PGP; DRM management with credentials accessed via modem and logic downloading protocol. Storing data is as follows: system identification; system state (version and description of variable logic as ordered list of components); PGP public/private keys and digital rights management keys. The system provides fixed logic content downloading. This information can be transferred to phone ports or data ports.

FIG. 2 shows two scenarios of the present invention. In scenario modem one SoftChip modem is providing information to a second SoftChip modem. No additional information is required on the central switch side. Each SoftChip modem may have more than one voice/data source attached to it.

Scenario two comprises one SoftChip modem providing information to two different destinations. In this scenario additional multiplexing environment is required on the central switch side.