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Reconfigurable modem for a computer or the like

  • US 5,134,648 A
  • Filed: 09/14/1990
  • Issued: 07/28/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A MODEM for connecting a computer to a given type telephone network for data transmission, comprising:

  • a main circuit connected to the computer and placed inside the computer, wherein the main circuit includes;

    (i) a computer interface circuit coupled to the computer, and(ii) a modulation/demodulation circuit coupled to the computer interface circuit for converting digital signals from the computer into analog signals capable of being conveyed by the given type telephone network and converting analog signals from the given type telephone network into digital signal capable of being received by the computer;

    an auxiliary circuit situated in a box enternal to the computer and connected to the given type telephone network, wherein the auxiliary circuit includes a telephone line interface circuit coupled to the given type telephone network, the telephone line interface circuit being specially designed for the given type telephone network; and

    a disconnectable connection means connected between the main circuit and the auxiliary circuit, wherein the disconnectable connection means includes a multi-conductor cable with at least one disconnectable connector;

    wherein the auxiliary circuit further includes;

    (1) a shift register means with a set of parallel input terminals and connected to the disconnectable connection means for storing and sequentially outputting a first identification code through the disconnectable connection means to the main circuit, the first identification code being representative of the given type telephone network; and

    (2) circuit means connected to the input terminals of the shift register means for generating the first identification code to the shift register means;

    wherein the disconnectable connection means further includes;

    (3) a first conductor for conveying a clock signal from the main circuit to the shift register means; and

    (4) a second conductor for conveying serially the first identification code from the shift register means to the main circuit;

    wherein the main circuit further includes;

    (5) a first memory for storing, at addresses, a plurality of identification codes, each with its values corresponding to operating characteristics of one type of telephone network, the plurality of identification codes in the first memory including the first identification code and the values corresponding to the operating characteristics of the given type telephone network;

    (6) a second memory for storing the values corresponding to the operating characteristics of the given type telephone network; and

    (7) a microprocessor coupled to the first conductor and the second conductor of the disconnectable connection means for conveying the clock signal to the shift register means and receiving the first identification code from the shift register means, the microprocessor being coupled to the first memory and the second memory for addressing the first memory with the first identification code for the values corresponding to the operating characteristics of the given telephone network and loading the second memory with the values corresponding to the operating characteristics of the given type telephone network such that the MODEM adapts the operating characteristics of the given type telephone network when the second memory is loaded with the values corresponding to the operating characteristics of the given type telephone network, the microprocessor being also connected to control the operation of the modulation/demodulation circuit and the computer interface circuit with the values corresponding to the operating characteristics of the given type of telephone network stored in the second memory.

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