Device independent modem interface
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device independent modem interface for one or more application programs executing in a computer, the interface comprising:
- a registry data store for storing modem specific control information;
a call controller for receiving modem independent call control commands from the application programs to control a modem;
a communication driver for receiving modem independent data I/O commands from the application programs to transfer data through the modem; and
a universal modem driver in communication with the registry data store for reading modem specific control information for the modem, the universal modem driver in communication with the call controller for receiving modem independent call control commands and in communication with the communication driver for receiving modem independent data I/O commands, the universal modem driver in communication with the modem for translating the modem independent call control commands to modem specific control commands based on the modem specific control information in the registry data store.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device independent modem interface employs a call control and data transfer application programming interface for application programs to access a modem in a device independent fashion. A universal modem driver reads device specific information from a registry to issue specific control commands to a modem. The universal modem driver separates command mode and data mode of the modem transparently to the application. The modem interface also includes support for detecting a modem and for loading device specific information into the registry based on the modem identification.
56 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device independent modem interface for one or more application programs executing in a computer, the interface comprising:
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a registry data store for storing modem specific control information; a call controller for receiving modem independent call control commands from the application programs to control a modem; a communication driver for receiving modem independent data I/O commands from the application programs to transfer data through the modem; and a universal modem driver in communication with the registry data store for reading modem specific control information for the modem, the universal modem driver in communication with the call controller for receiving modem independent call control commands and in communication with the communication driver for receiving modem independent data I/O commands, the universal modem driver in communication with the modem for translating the modem independent call control commands to modem specific control commands based on the modem specific control information in the registry data store. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for communicating through a modem in a computer system having a call controller and a communication driver accessible to one or more application programs, a universal modem driver for transferring modem specific commands to a modem, and a registry data store for storing modem specific control information, the method comprising:
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reading modem specific control information from the registry data store with the universal modem driver so that the universal modem driver can issue modem specific control commands to the modem in the computer system; receiving call control commands from the one or more application programs in the call controller; receiving data I/O commands from the one or more application programs in the communication driver; in response to receiving the call control commands in the call controller, issuing call control commands to the universal modem driver; in response to receiving the data I/O commands in the communication driver, issuing data I/O commands to the universal modem driver; when the modem is in command mode, transferring modem specific control commands to the modem with the universal modem driver, continuing to issue at least a first data I/O command from the communication driver to the universal modem driver, and deferring processing of the at least first data I/O command received by the universal modem driver while in command mode until the modem switches to data mode such that the application programs do not need to be aware that the modem is in command mode or data mode; and when the modem is in data mode, transferring data I/O commands to the modem through the universal modem driver, continuing to issue at least a first call control command from the call controller to the universal modem driver, and deferring processing of the at least first call control commands received by the universal modem driver while in data mode until the modem switches to command mode such that the call controller does not need to be aware that the modem is in command mode or data mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling communication through a modem in a computer including a call controller for receiving call control commands from plural application programs executing in the computer, and a universal modem driver, the method comprising:
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querying the modem to detect the modem type; in response to detecting the modem type, loading modem specific control information associated with the modem type; receiving modem independent call control commands from the plural application programs in the call controller; issuing the modem independent call control commands to the universal modem driver; and translating the modem independent call control commands to modem specific call control commands in the universal modem driver using the modem specific control information associated with the modem type. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification