How VoIP Works
VoIP is a reinvention of an already working system, and is set to revolutionize how the world's phone system operates.
The way VoIP works is an analog signal (user's voice) is turned into digital data and split into packets. These packets are then routed to another phone via the Internet. At the termination point, the packets are reassembled in the correct order.
The transmission speed of packets is increased by using CODECs. The CODEC used depends on the VoIP service provider. CODECs that provide better voice quality result in larger files. Thus, there are more packets to send over the Internet and more bandwidth is required.
The Workings of a VoIP Phone System
Data networks, unlike circuit networks, don't maintain a constant connection between two points for the transfer of data. Instead, they try to retrieve data only as it is needed. As well, data networks transfer data packets over many different paths. The term used for this is packet switching.
Because data networks send data only when it is needed, they tend to work efficiently. A few steps are involved in the transmission of information across a data network.
- The sending device takes an analog signal, digitizes it, and then chops the file into packets. Each packet contains an address and information about how it should be reassembled.
- Inside each packet is a payload. The payload contains a piece of the digital file.
- The sending device takes the packet and forwards it to a router. That router forwards it to a router that is closer to the receiver. This continues on until the packet reaches its destination.
- When the packets finally reach their destination they are reassembled into the original file using the information contained in them.
