Method and apparatus for transmission of data and voice

• US 5,802,483 A
• Filed: 09/10/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frances E. Morris
• Original Assignee: Walker C. Morris
• Inventors: Morris, Walker C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US08/711,515
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 379/61, 379/93, 379/97, 379/98, 379/100, 379/420, 370/401, 370/402, 370/524, 455/33.1, 455/54.1, 455/550, 455/556, 455/557
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18567 Arrangements for providing additional services to the basic mobile satellite telephony service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A modem-controller for auto switching and controlling the transmission and receiving of voice and error-free transmission of standard data signals, fax data signals and voice communications over telephone line service, radio frequency networks, satellite systems, as well as cellular telephone systems includes analog switches that receive control signals from the micro-controller for controlling and switching the audio or data path of an internal voice board and the analog signals from a modem to and from a radio frequency transceiver via a radio frequency transceiver interface/logic board, a cellular telephone transceiver via a cellular telephone transceiver interface, a telephone landline via a data access arrangement (DAA), a satellite system via a telephone landline through the DAA. A method selects the DAA which either connects to the telephone line, the satellite system or the cellular telephone, and another method bypasses the DAA, selects and controls radio frequency telemetry modules or packet radios. The operation of the modem-controller is divided into three modes comprising a command mode, a data mode and an escape mode. The software is a set of data communication protocols which provide error-free communication of data and define a file transfer protocol at the application layer, the session protocol and the link protocol.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting data signals over a telephone landline or a cellular telephone system and for transmitting voice signals over the telephone landline or the cellular telephone system, comprising:

a modem;

a data access arrangement including means for operatively connecting to the telephone landline;

a microcontroller;

a memory operatively connected to said microcontroller;

protocol software in said memory for controlling the operation of the apparatus;

a cellular telephone interface for operatively connecting to a cellular telephone;

means for providing voice communications for transmission over the telephone landline or the cellular telephone system;

a first analog switch operatively connecting a first terminal to either said means for providing voice communications or said modem as decided by the microcontroller;

a second analog switch operatively connecting said data access arrangement and said cellular telephone interface or not as decided by the microcontroller; and

a third analog switch operatively connecting the first terminal of the first analog switch with said data access arrangement or not as decided by the microcontroller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said protocol software includes means for retrying the connection phase for a total of six tries.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said protocol software includes means for retransmitting data packets, after successful connection phase, for a total of eighteen tries.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said protocol software includes means to suspend transmission to wait for the recovery of loss of carrier.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said protocol software includes means to switch the mode of operation of said modem from synchronous to asynchronous if carrier loss occurs during transmission in the synchronous mode of operation and to switch back to the synchronous mode upon recovery of the carrier.

6. An apparatus for transmission data signals over a telephone landline, a wireless radio frequency network or a cellular telephone system and for transmitting voice signals over the telephone landline, the wireless radio frequency network or a cellular telephone system, comprising:

a modem;

a data access arrangement including a means for operatively connecting to the telephone landline;

a microcontroller operatively connected to said modem;

a memory operatively connected to said microcontroller;

protocol software in said memory for controlling the operation of the apparatus;

a cellular telephone interface for operatively connecting to a cellular telephone;

a radio frequency interface for connecting to a radio frequency transceiver unit;

means for providing voice communication using a microphone and speaker;

a first analog switch operatively connecting a first terminal to either said means for providing voice communications or said modem as decided by the microcontroller;

a second analog switch operatively connecting said data access arrangement and said cellular telephone interface or not as decided by the microcontroller; and

a third analog switch operatively connecting the first terminal of the first analog switch with either said data access arrangement or said radio frequency interface as decided by the microcontroller.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said protocol software includes means for retrying the connection phase for a said number of tries.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said protocol software includes means for retransmitting data packets, after successful connection phase, for a said number of tries.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said protocol software includes means to suspend transmission to wait for the recovery of loss of carrier.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said protocol software includes means to switch the mode of operation of said modem from synchronous to asynchronous if carrier loss occurs during transmission in the synchronous mode of operation and to switch back to the synchronous mode upon recovery of the carrier.

11. An apparatus for transmission of data signals over ordinary telephone line service or a cellular telephone system and for transmitting voice signals over the telephone line service, the radio frequency or the cellular telephone system, comprising:

a modem;

a data access arrangement operatively connected to said modem and including a means to operatively connect to a telephone line;

a microcontroller operatively connected to said modem;

a memory operatively connected to said microcontroller;

protocol software in said memory for controlling the operation of the apparatus;

a cellular telephone interface for connecting to a cellular telephone unit;

radio frequency interface for connecting to radio frequency telemetry modules or packet radios;

means for providing voice communication using a microphone and speaker;

a first analog switch operatively connecting a first terminal to either said means for providing voice communications or said modem as decided by the microcontroller;

a second analog switch operatively connecting said data access arrangement and said cellular telephone interface or not as decided by the microcontroller;

a third analog switch operatively connecting the first terminal of the first analog switch with either said data access arrangement or said radio frequency interface as decided by the microcontroller; and

a fourth analog switch operatively connecting a remote device to said data access arrangement or not as decided by the microcontroller.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said protocol software includes means for retrying the connection phase for a total of six tries over a cellular telephone system, radio frequency network or a telephone line service.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said protocol software includes means for retransmitting data packets, after successful connection phase, for a total of eighteen tries over a cellular telephone system, radio frequency network or a telephone line service.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said protocol software includes means to suspend transmission from the apparatus to wait for the recovery of loss of carrier over a cellular telephone system, radio frequency network or a telephone line service.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said protocol software includes means to switch the mode of operation of said apparatus from synchronous to asynchronous if carrier loss occurs during transmission in the synchronous mode of operation and to switch back to the synchronous mode upon recovery of the carrier over a cellular telephone system, radio frequency network or a telephone line service.

16. An apparatus for transmission of standard or fax data signals over ordinary telephone line service, radio frequency network, satellite system or a cellular telephone system and for transmitting voice signals over the telephone line service, the radio frequency network, the satellite system and the cellular telephone system, comprising:

a modem;

a data access arrangement operatively connected to said modem and including a means to operatively connect to a telephone line;

a microcontroller operatively connected to said modem;

a read-only memory operatively connected to said microcontroller;

protocol software in said read-only memory in the form of firmware for controlling the operation of the apparatus;

a cellular telephone interface for connecting said microcontroller to a cellular telephone unit;

a radio frequency interface for connecting said microcontroller to a radio frequency telemetry module or packet radio unit;

means for providing voice communication using a microphone and speaker over the telephone line, the wireless radio frequency network, the satellite system or the cellular telephone system;

a first analog switch operatively connecting a first terminal to either said means for providing voice communications or said modem as decided by the microcontroller;

a second analog switch operatively connecting said data access arrangement and said cellular telephone interface or not as decided by the microcontroller;

a third analog switch operatively connecting the first terminal of the first analog switch with either said data access arrangement or said radio frequency interface as decided by the microcontroller; and

a fourth analog switch operatively connecting said satellite system to said data access arrangement or not as decided by the microcontroller.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said protocol software includes means for retrying the connection phase for a total of six tries over a cellular telephone system, radio frequency network, satellite system or a telephone line service.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said protocol software includes means for retransmitting data packets, after successful connection phase, for a total of eighteen tries over a cellular telephone system, radio frequency network, satellite system or a telephone line service.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said protocol software includes means to suspend transmission from the apparatus to wait for the recovery of loss of carrier over a cellular telephone system, radio frequency network, satellite system or a telephone line service.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said protocol software includes means to switch the mode of operation of said apparatus from synchronous to asynchronous if carrier loss occurs during transmission in the synchronous mode of operation and to switch back to the synchronous mode upon recovery of the carrier over a cellular telephone system, radio frequency network, satellite system or a telephone line service.