Intelligent local area network modem node

• US 5,355,365 A
• Filed: 03/31/1993
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Sundarraajan, Narasimhan, Bhat, Damodar, Ngo, Hung S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US08/040,931
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 370/85.13, 370/85.14, 370/85.15, 370/85.12, 370/60, 370/94.1, 370/94.3, 370/58.1, 370/58.2, 379/94, 379/93, 375/8
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus which provides a shared modem resource to PCs connected through a local area network and to off-network PCs. In particular, the present invention is an intelligent LAN modem node which combines the attributes of a local area network node, an intelligent operating personal computer and one or more modems constructed in a dedicated fashion. The LAN modem node operates as a standalone node on a LAN to allow the shared resources of modem communication for the other PCs on the network and off-network PCs without tying up any of the PCs on the network for modem communications. The LAN modem node allows the PCs on the LAN to communicate with off-LAN devices such as mainframe computers, off-site printers, minicomputers, other local area networks and the like. The LAN modem node also gives off-LAN personal computers access to network resources.

Claims

1. An intelligent communications node which controls communication between a remote computer at a remote site and a selected one of a plurality of computers attached as nodes on a local area network, comprising:

at least one modem for connection to the remote computer;

network interface means for communicating as a node on the local area network using a first level packet protocol; and

a main controller connected to said at least one modem and connected to the network interface means as a node on the local area network using a second level packet protocol imbedded within said first level packet protocol to communicate with the selected one of a plurality of computers attached as nodes on the local area network, said main controller further including;

inter-module software control means for controlling access to said at least one modem by the selected one of a plurality of computers attached as nodes on the local area network and for controlling access to said at least one modem by the remote computer said inter-module control means further including at least one flag indicating whether said at least one modem is available;

remote control software means for communicating with the remote computer;

async server software means for communicating with the selected one of a plurality of computers attached as a node on the local area network;

wherein said async server software means further includes means for setting one of said at least one flag when a connection between said at least one modem and the selected one of a plurality of computers attached as a node on the local area network is established;

wherein said async server software means further includes means for clearing one of said at least one flag when a connection between said at least one modem and a node on the local area network is terminated;

wherein said remote control software means further includes means for setting one of said at least one flag when a connection between the corresponding node and a remote computer is established; and

wherein said remote control software means further includes means for clearing one of said at least one flag when a connection between the corresponding node and a remote computer is terminated.

2. The intelligent communications node of claim 1 wherein the network interface means includes a memory and includes means for automatically loading the network drivers from the file server of the local area network upon power up.

3. A method for sharing a modem resource between a plurality of nodes on a network and a plurality of remote computers, comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a local area network server to an intelligent network modem node including a plurality of modems;

(b) communicating between the local area network server and the intelligent network modem node using a first level communications protocol;

(c) attaching the local area network server to a local computer using the first level communications protocol;

(d) communicating between the local computer and the intelligent network modem node using a second level communications protocol imbedded within the first level communications protocol;

(e) providing at least one modem flag, each corresponding to a different one of the plurality of modems;

(f) polling one of said modem flags to determine whether the corresponding modem is available;

(g) setting one of said modem flags when a connection between the corresponding modem and a remote computer or a network node is established;

(h) clearing one of said modem flags when a connection between the corresponding modem and a remote computer or a network node is terminated;

(i) engaging in a first communication protocol between the intelligent network modem node and at least one node on the network to establish, maintain and terminate a connection therebetween; and

(j) engaging in a second communication protocol between the intelligent network modem node and at least one remote computer to establish, maintain and terminate a connection therebetween.