Experimental implementations of packet voice communication systems over two types of PC-based local area networks are described. The first is a Proteon proNET token-passing ring network, and the second is an Ethernet network. System configuration, operation, and performance are described for both networks. Models of network performance for estimating the maximum allowable number of active voice stations without incurring intolerable packet loss are presented for each system. The models are defined for systems with and without silence detection. PC-related implementation issues are also discussed.>

A distributed control mechanism for managing a packet-switched voice conference connection is presented. The principal concept introduced is the idea of viewing a conference connection as a logical ring of participants. Alternative methods for implementing voice conferencing on both broadcast and point-to-point networks are introduced, analyzed, and compared. Tradeoffs between the two methods with respect to station workload and maximum number of conference participants are discussed. Experimental implementations on both a carrier-sense multi-access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) Ethernet and a token-ring ProNet are described. The mechanisms presented can be used as part of a packet-switched voice communications protocol that includes conferencing capabilities.>

This paper describes an implementation of a real-time, packetized voice communication system over a personal computer (PC) based token-passing ring local area network. System configuration and operation are presented. The system implements real-time, conversational transmission of voice packets between two stations on the network. An analysis is shown to calculate the maximum number of two way conversations that can be handled by the system without any reconstitution delay.