A method for controlling the streaming of voice signals in a local area network is provided. The method includes identifying at least one device to be used in the voice connection among a plurality of devices on the local area network. The method also identifies at least one mode for each of the at least one device to be used in the voice connection. The method sets the at least one mode for the at least one device and streams data over the voice connection based on the at least one mode of the at least one device.
A cable node and a cable hub that communicate on a CATV network are configured to switch compression modes without signal noise or degradation due to excessive delays in switching compression modes. In particular, a cable node sends one or more mute commands in an outgoing data stream to the cable hub, causing the cable hub to disable the RF outputs. Afterward, or along with the one or more mute commands, the cable node can send a switch mode command, thereby causing the cable hub to switch to the appropriate next communication mode, such as a communication mode using a new compression rate. When the cable node and the cable hub have switched to the appropriate next communication mode, the cable hub can then properly receive a corresponding data stream from the cable node using the next communication mode.
