DATA COUPLING APPARATUS

• US 3,739,338 A
• Filed: 07/23/1971
• Issued: 06/12/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles L. Jacobson, John Tambert, Stanley J. Zurakowski
• Original Assignee: Charles L. Jacobson, John Tambert, Stanley J. Zurakowski
• Inventors: Jacobson, Charles L., Zurakowski, Stanley J., Tambert, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/165,684
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 340/147R 179/2DP,2C,2A,4 178/5.4MC,2,3
• US Class Current: 375/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/327 Initiating, continuing or ending a single-mode communication; Handshaking therefor H04N1/32614 takes precedence

Abstract

A data device is automatically or manually connected to a communication channel to permit the communication of data over said communication channel between the data device and a remote device. Control means are provided to selectively determine an automatic or manual mode of operation. When in said automatic mode, automatic responding means responds to a signal representing a request by a remote device coupled to the communication channel to communicate with the data device for providing a communication path between the data device and the communication channel. When in said manual mode, manual responding means responds to the manual operation of switch means for providing a communication path between the data device and the communication channel. Once the communication path is established between the data device and the communication channel, irrespective of the mode of operation, enabling means is activated to initiate an operation of the data device. The present invention may be utilized for transmitting data over a conventional telephone system and is adapted to be combined with an automatic data coupling unit provided by various public telephone companies.

Claims

1. In combination with an automatic data coupling device for transmitting and receiving data over a telephone line, said automatic data coupling device being actuable to provide a data communication channel to said telephone line, apparatus interposed between a local data statiOn and said automatic data coupling device for regulating the data communication between said local data station and a remote station, comprising:

data transmit means interconnected between said local data station and said automatic data coupling device for providing a transmission path between said local data station and said automatic data coupling device for the transmission of data from said local data station;

data receive means interconnected between said automatic data coupling device and said local data station for providing a receiving path between said automatic data coupling device and said local data station for the reception of data by said local data station;

control means adapted to be preset by a manual operation thereof for selectively establishing an automatic control mode and a manual control mode for data communication;

automatic responding means coupled to said automatic data coupling device and responsive to an interrogating signal transmitted from said remote station for actuating said automatic data coupling device to enable said automatic data coupling device to establish a communication path between said local data station and said remote station when an automatic control mode is established, manual responding means coupled to said automatic data coupling device and responsive to a manual operation of switch means for actuating said automatic data coupling device to enable said automatic data coupling device to establish a communication path between said local data station and said remote station when a manual control mode is established, and enable means responsive to the actuation of said automatic data coupling device by said automatic responding means or said manual responding means for supplying said local data station with an enabling signal to initiate the operation of said local data station.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises:

bistate means admitting of a first state for providing a first signal representing an automatic control mode and a second state for providing a second signal representing a manual control mode;

activating means coupled to said bistate means for selectively activating said bistate means into said first and second states; and

indicating means coupled to said bistate means for providing a first indication when said bistate means admits of said first state and a second indication when said bistate means admits of said second state.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said automatic responding means comprises:

first combining means coupled to said automatic data coupling device and said bistate means for combining a signal generated by said automatic data coupling device representing a request by said remote station for communication with said local data station and said first signal to produce a first actuating signal; and

means for supplying said first actuating signal to said automatic data coupling device.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said manual responding means comprises:

second combining means coupled to manually operable switch means and said bistate means for combining a signal generated by said manually operable switch means and said second signal to produce a second actuating signal; and

means for supplying said second actuating signal to said automatic data coupling device.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for supplying said first actuating signal to said automatic data coupling device and said means for supplying said second actuating signal to said automatic data coupling device comprise:

storage means for selectively storing said first and second actuating signals;

means coupled to said first and second combining means for selectively supplying said storage means with said first and second actuating signals;

means coupled to said storage means for supplying said selectively stored first and second actuating signals to said automatic data coupling device; and

resEt means for clearing said selectively stored first and second actuating signals from said storage means.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said reset means comprises:

detecting means for detecting the termination of a data communication between said local data station and said remote station; and

timing means responsive to a detected termination of a data communication for applying a reset signal to said storage means at a predetermined time subsequent to said detected termination, thereby deactuating said automatic data coupling device.

7. The combination of claim 6 including means for applying an additional actuating signal to said automatic data coupling device when said bistate means admits of said second state whereby said additional actuating signal inhibits the deactuation of said automatic data coupling device when said storage means is cleared.

8. The combination of claim 7 further including inhibit means coupled to said first and second combining means for inhibiting the operation of said first and second combining means when said local data station is not capable of communication with said remote station.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said indicating means includes visual indicating means for providing an indication when said local data station is capable of automatic data communication and when said local data station is capable of manual data communication.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said visual indicating means comprises:

lamp means;

first energizing means coupled to said bistate means for generating a first energizing signal when said bistate means admits of said first state and said local data station is capable of communicating with said remote station;

second energizing means coupled to said bistate means and said storage means for generating a second energizing signal when said bistate means admits of said second state, said storage means selectively stores said first and second actuating signals and said local data station is capable of communicating with said remote station and;

means coupled to said first and second energizing means for selectively supplying said lamp means with said first and second energizing signals.

11. The combination of claim 10 further including:

additional lamp means for providing a visual indication of the termination of a data transmission;

activating means coupled to said detecting means for activating said additional lamp means upon detecting the termination of a data communication; and

manually operable means for de-activating said additional lamp means in response to the manual operation thereof.

12. Data coupling apparatus for connecting a data device to a communication channel comprising:

first means responsive to a request signal representing a request by a remote device coupled to said communication channel to communicate with said data device for establishing a communication path between said data device and said communication channel;

second means responsive to the manual operation of switch means for establishing said communication path between said data device and said communication channel;

manually operable control means coupled to said first and second means and responsive to the operation of manual selecting means for enabling the selected operation of said first means or said second means; and

enabling means responsive to the establishment of said communication path to enable the operation of said data device.

13. Data coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said communication path comprises:

data transmit means interconnected between said data device and said communication channel for transmitting data to said communication channel from said data device; and

data receive means interconnected between said communication channel and said data device for supplying said data device with data transmitted over said communication channel.

14. Data coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said control means comprises:

bistate means admitting of a first and second state for supplying a first signal to said first means to enable the operation of said first means when said bistate means admits of said first state and for supplying a second signal to said second means to enable the operation of said second means when said bistate means admits of said second state; and

indicating means coupled to said bistate means for indicating the state assumed by said bistate means.

15. Data coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said first means comprises first coincidence means for producing a first actuating signal when said request signal and said first signal are applied thereto in coinciding relationship.

16. Data coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said second means comprises second coincidence means for producing a second actuating signal when said second signal is applied thereto in coinciding relationship with the manual operation of said switch means.

17. Data coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 16 further including actuating means coupled to said first and second coincidence means and selectively responsive to said first and second actuating signals to connect said data transmit means and said data receive means to said communication channel.

18. Data coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said enabling means is coupled to said data device and initiates an operation of said data device in response to the connecting of said data transmit means and said data receive means to said communication channel.

19. Data coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said actuating means includes detecting means for detecting the termination of said operation of said data device for disconnecting said data transmit means and said data receive means from said communication channel.

20. Data coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein said actuating means further includes means for inhibiting the disconnecting of said data transmit means and said data receive means when said bistate means admits of said second state.