Cellular telephone-modem interface for data communication
First Claim
1. A method for operating a data communication link between a data processing system and a remote location accessible via a cellular telephone, said data processing system having a serial port connection including a first data line carrying data from the data processing system, and a second data line carrying data to the data processing system, said data processing system coupled to a modem via said serial port, said modem including a tip/ring interface for connecting to a wired telephone jack and a connector, said connector providing external access to said first data line, to one or more analog inputs of said modem, an off-hook signal output of said modem and an analog output of said modem, said cellular telephone including a modem interface coupled to said connector, said method comprising the steps of:
- issuing through said first data line a modem dialing command including a telephone number of said remote location;
thereafterreceiving, using said modem, said modem dialing command via said first data line;
thereafterresponding to said modem dialing command by activating said off-hook signal output;
thereafterresponding, using said cellular telephone, to said activated off-hook signal output by outputting a simulated dial tone onto one of said one or more analog inputs;
thereafterdialing, using said cellular telephone, said telephone number as received via said first data line to initiate a call;
thereafterreceiving, using said cellular telephone, an answer tone from said remote location;
thereafteroutputting, using said cellular telephone, said answer tone to one of said one or more analog inputs;
thereaftertranslating, using said modem, data received from said first data line into analog modem output signals for transmission onto said analog output;
transmitting, using said cellular telephone, said analog modem output signals from said analog output to said remote location;
receiving, using said cellular telephone, analog modem input signals from said remote location;
transmitting, using said cellular telephone, said analog modem input signals to one of said one or more analog inputs; and
translating, using said modem, said analog modem input signals into digital data for transmission onto said second data line.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modem is equipped with both a conventional telephone line interface for attaching to a wired telephone jack and a special interface for connecting to a cellular telephone. The modem interacts with the cellular telephone in accordance with a special protocol, wherein signals of the protocol are derived directly from the conventional modem signals used to interact with the wired telephone jack. No high voltage signals need pass between the modem and cellular telephone. Substitution of the cellular telephone for the wired telephone jack is transparent to the software used to operate the modem. Aside from a connection cable, no special hardware is required between the cellular telephone and modem.
31 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for operating a data communication link between a data processing system and a remote location accessible via a cellular telephone, said data processing system having a serial port connection including a first data line carrying data from the data processing system, and a second data line carrying data to the data processing system, said data processing system coupled to a modem via said serial port, said modem including a tip/ring interface for connecting to a wired telephone jack and a connector, said connector providing external access to said first data line, to one or more analog inputs of said modem, an off-hook signal output of said modem and an analog output of said modem, said cellular telephone including a modem interface coupled to said connector, said method comprising the steps of:
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issuing through said first data line a modem dialing command including a telephone number of said remote location;
thereafterreceiving, using said modem, said modem dialing command via said first data line;
thereafterresponding to said modem dialing command by activating said off-hook signal output;
thereafterresponding, using said cellular telephone, to said activated off-hook signal output by outputting a simulated dial tone onto one of said one or more analog inputs;
thereafterdialing, using said cellular telephone, said telephone number as received via said first data line to initiate a call;
thereafterreceiving, using said cellular telephone, an answer tone from said remote location;
thereafteroutputting, using said cellular telephone, said answer tone to one of said one or more analog inputs;
thereaftertranslating, using said modem, data received from said first data line into analog modem output signals for transmission onto said analog output; transmitting, using said cellular telephone, said analog modem output signals from said analog output to said remote location; receiving, using said cellular telephone, analog modem input signals from said remote location; transmitting, using said cellular telephone, said analog modem input signals to one of said one or more analog inputs; and translating, using said modem, said analog modem input signals into digital data for transmission onto said second data line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6, 9, 10)
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4. A method for operating a data communication link between a data processing system and a remote location accessible via a cellular telephone, said data processing system having a serial port connection including a first data line carrying data from the data processing system, and a second data line carrying data to the data processing system, said data processing system coupled to a modem via said serial port, said modem including a tip/ring interface for connecting to a wired telephone jack and a connector, said connector providing external access to said first data line, to one or more analog inputs of said modem, an off-hook signal output of said modem, a ring detection input to said modem and an analog output of said modem, said cellular telephone including a modem interface coupled to said connector, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, using said cellular telephone, a page message from said remote location; activating, using said cellular telephone, said ring detection input responsive to said page message in accordance with timing of a ring signal; and
thereafteractivating, using said modem, said off-hook signal output responsive to activation of said ring detection input.
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5. A modem for integrated interfacing with both wireless and wired connections to a public telephone system, said modem comprising:
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serial port means for exchanging data with a data processing system including a first data line carrying data from said data processing system and a second data line carrying data to said data processing system; tip/ring interface means for connecting to a wired telephone jack, said tip/ring interface means including ring detection means for activating a ring detection line responsive to a ring received by said tip/ring interface means; modem controller means coupled to said serial port means and to said tip/ring interface means, said modem controller means comprising
1) means for receiving analog modem signals from said tip/ring interface means and an analog input distinct from said tip/ring interface means,
2) means for translating said received analog modem signals into digital data for output onto said second data line,
3) means for receiving digital data from said first data line, and
4) means for translating digital data received from said first data line into analog modem signals for output onto said tip/ring interface means and an analog output distinct from said tip/ring interface means, said modem controller means operating responsive to modem command data received via said first data line;connector means for coupling to a cellular telephone interface, said connector means being coupled to said modem controller means, to said ring detection means, and to said serial port means, said connector means providing external access to said first data line, to said ring detection line, to said analog input, and to said analog output; and a cellular telephone coupled to said cellular telephone interface, said cellular telephone controlling said ring detection means and whereupon detecting an off-hook condition passes to said modem controller via said cellular telephone interface a simulated dial tone and wherein said cellular telephone sends and receives low voltage analog signals; and wherein said wired telephone jack and said connector both exchange analog modem signals with said modem controller means thereby providing access to said public telephone system via both wired and wireless interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. An apparatus for integrated interfacing with both wireless and wired connections to a public telephone system, said apparatus comprising:
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a port for exchanging data signals with a data processing system; a first interface for connecting to a wired telephone jack, said first interface including a ring detection circuit that generates a ring detection signal responsive to a ring received by said first interface; a second interface for connecting to a wireless telephone system, wherein said second interface also generates said ring detection signal; a modem circuit connected to said port, said first interface, and said second interface, for exchanging telephone signals with said first and second interfaces and data signals with said port so that said data processing system communicates data with said wired telephone jack via said first interface and with said wireless telephone system via said second interface; and a cellular telephone coupled to said second interface, said cellular telephone controlling said ring detection circuit and whereupon detecting an off-hook condition passes to said modem circuit via said second interface a simulated dial tone, and wherein said cellular phone sends and receives digital and low-voltage analog telephone signals to an from said wireless telephone system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification