Introduction to VoIP History
By Michael Fuchs
The usage of VoIP is expected to grow steadily as it continues to maximize the
sharing of equipment across both data and voice networks. This technology is
expected to overtake traditional voice networks.
The term VoIP is associated with many synonyms. Among them are next-
generation telephony, computer telephony integration, packet telephony, intranet
and/or extranet telephony, Voice Over Network (VON) and voice conferencing.
In the general definition, it can also encompass any multimedia transmission that
can occur over IP-based networks. However, only the voice aspect will be
addresses here.
The conversion of the analog signal of voice to a digital format requires that use of
sound sampling. Any analog sound consists of two components, pitch (or
frequency) and volume. The pitch can range from 300 hertz to 3400 hertz. The
volume also has a wide range of 40 decibels. Discrete samples of sound must be
taken in order to digitalize it. The rate of which a sample is taken varies, but 8,000
samples per second are typical for traditional PSTN networks. The sampling rate
must be at least twice the maximum pitch.
PSTN uses traditional circuit switching to route a caller’s call to its destination.
While this is reliable, it is very inefficient. To alleviate some of the problems with
circuit-switched networks, packer switched networks were devised. The voice
signal is divided into pieces called payloads. These payloads are then
encapsulated with the appropriate header to form a packet hat can be transmitted
over a network. In the case of VoIP, these packets are encapsulated with an IP
header.
VoIP can be implemented on any PC with a sound card, speaker, microphone, and
a modem or Ethernet card with installed VoIP software. This software can
emulate the features of a traditional telephone including a keypad with special
feature buttons (redial, speed-dial, etc.) In addition to a PC implementation, there
are also IP phones with a hack that allows them to be directly connected to any
Ethernet network.
The VoIP technology can be viewed as a step in the continuation of evolution of
communications technology that began with the invention of the telephone more
than 125 years ago. Like any other method of communication, standards must be
adopted on both the sending end and the receiving end. In VoIP one such
standard is H.323.
The underlying parts of almost any widespread VoIP implementations are gateway
and gatekeepers. A gateway is what interfaces VoIP networks to circuit-switched
PSTN networks. A gatekeeper is used in VoIP networks to provide control of
access to Local Area Networks (LANs), address translation, connection control,
call routing, bandwidth management and a method of finding gateways,
VoIP also has broad economic implications because some believe that it will
eventually overtake PSTN networks. However, there is guaranteed to be barriers
to this primarily in terms of regulation attempts by various levels of governments.
Our VoIP History site will provide you more information on the History of VoIP.
By Michael Fuchs
The usage of VoIP is expected to grow steadily as it continues to maximize the
sharing of equipment across both data and voice networks. This technology is
expected to overtake traditional voice networks.
The term VoIP is associated with many synonyms. Among them are next-
generation telephony, computer telephony integration, packet telephony, intranet
and/or extranet telephony, Voice Over Network (VON) and voice conferencing.
In the general definition, it can also encompass any multimedia transmission that
can occur over IP-based networks. However, only the voice aspect will be
addresses here.
The conversion of the analog signal of voice to a digital format requires that use of
sound sampling. Any analog sound consists of two components, pitch (or
frequency) and volume. The pitch can range from 300 hertz to 3400 hertz. The
volume also has a wide range of 40 decibels. Discrete samples of sound must be
taken in order to digitalize it. The rate of which a sample is taken varies, but 8,000
samples per second are typical for traditional PSTN networks. The sampling rate
must be at least twice the maximum pitch.
PSTN uses traditional circuit switching to route a caller’s call to its destination.
While this is reliable, it is very inefficient. To alleviate some of the problems with
circuit-switched networks, packer switched networks were devised. The voice
signal is divided into pieces called payloads. These payloads are then
encapsulated with the appropriate header to form a packet hat can be transmitted
over a network. In the case of VoIP, these packets are encapsulated with an IP
header.
VoIP can be implemented on any PC with a sound card, speaker, microphone, and
a modem or Ethernet card with installed VoIP software. This software can
emulate the features of a traditional telephone including a keypad with special
feature buttons (redial, speed-dial, etc.) In addition to a PC implementation, there
are also IP phones with a hack that allows them to be directly connected to any
Ethernet network.
The VoIP technology can be viewed as a step in the continuation of evolution of
communications technology that began with the invention of the telephone more
than 125 years ago. Like any other method of communication, standards must be
adopted on both the sending end and the receiving end. In VoIP one such
standard is H.323.
The underlying parts of almost any widespread VoIP implementations are gateway
and gatekeepers. A gateway is what interfaces VoIP networks to circuit-switched
PSTN networks. A gatekeeper is used in VoIP networks to provide control of
access to Local Area Networks (LANs), address translation, connection control,
call routing, bandwidth management and a method of finding gateways,
VoIP also has broad economic implications because some believe that it will
eventually overtake PSTN networks. However, there is guaranteed to be barriers
to this primarily in terms of regulation attempts by various levels of governments.
Our VoIP History site will provide you more information on the History of VoIP.
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