Telecommunication apparatus serving as an interface between a digital computer and an analog communication medium

• US 4,578,537 A
• Filed: 08/05/1983
• Issued: 03/25/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cygnet Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IRIS International Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Yazolino, Lauren F., Ha, Eric P. L., Kerman, Stephan, Korody, Robert, Klein, Jerry A., Faggin, Federico
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/520,738
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 179/2 A, 179/2 AM, 179/2 C, 179/2 CA, 179/2 DP, 375/8, 375/5
• US Class Current: 379/93.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/902 Auto-switch for an incoming voice data, or fax telephone call, e.g. comp/fax/tel

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interface apparatus between a digital computer and an analog communication medium. The interface apparatus has a telephony apparatus for transmitting or receiving the voice signals and a modem for transmitting or receiving the data signals. A switch is interposed between the telephone line and the modem and the telephony apparatus. The switch can be alternatively switched such that the telephony apparatus is connected to the telephone lines and transmits and receives voice signals and the modem is connected to receive data carrier signals that precede digital data signals and follow the digital data signals to and from the medium, or in the second position wherein the modem is connected to transmit and to receive digital data signals. The interface apparatus further has an interrupt for interrupting the operation of the computer and for causing the computer to be in communication with the modem and for switching the switch to connect the modem with the medium.

Claims

1. An interface apparatus between a digital computer and an analog communication medium, said interface apparatus comprising:

telephony means for transmitting and receiving voice signals to and from said medium;

modem means for for communication with said computer and said medium for transmitting and receiving data signals to and from said medium for said computer;

switch means interposed between said communication medium said telephony means, and said modem means;

said switch means are adapted to connect said medium and said telephony means and said modem means in a first position and in a second position, wherein in said first position said telephony means are connected to transmit and to receive voice signals to and from said medium and said modem means are connected to receive data carrier signals from said medium; and

wherein in said second position, said telephony means are disconnected from said medium and said modem means are connected to transmit and to receive digital data signals to and from said medium;

control means for controlling said switch means between said first position and said second position;

said control means for automatically switching said switch means from said first position to said second position when said apparatus transmits data signals to said medium or when said modem means detects said data carrier signals; and

said control means for automatically switching said switch means from said second position to said first position when said apparatus terminates the transmission of digital data signal to said medium or when said modem means ceases to receive data signals from said medium; and

interrupt means for interrupting the operation of said computer for causing said computer to be in communication with said modem, when said control means causes said switch means to be in the second position;

whereby said computer being in communication with said apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said computer has a display screen, said interrupt means for causing said data displayed on said screen to be stored when the operation of said computer is interrupted.