Pass-through modem supporting both analog and digital cellular data communications

• US 5,878,078 A
• Filed: 08/15/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Vidales, Carlos E., Griffin, Lee Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Bocure, Tesfaldet
• Application Number:
  US08/698,121
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 375/222, 375/219, 375/259, 375/216, 455/517, 370/522-527, 379/93.09, 379/93.01
• US Class Current: 375/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A protocol processor functionality and a data pump functionality are included in a modem which is configurable in a number of modes of operation to effectuate both analog and digital data communications. When configured for analog data communications either over a telephone line of the wireline telephone network or using an analog capable mobile station of the cellular telephone network, data signals are routed through both the protocol processor functionality and the data pump functionality. The protocol processor is also connected to the mobile station to transmit and receive call supervision signals. When configured for digital data communications using a digital capable mobile station of the cellular telephone network, the data signals by-pass the data pump functionality and are transmitted by the protocol processor functionality along with the call supervision signals. In an alternative embodiment also configured for digital data communications using a digital capable mobile station, the data signals by-pass both the data pump functionality and the protocol processor functionality.

Claims

1. A modem, comprising:

a serial data port for connecting to data terminal equipment communicating using digital data signals;

a protocol processor, connected to the serial data port, for formatting and de-formatting the digital data signals;

a data pump, connected to the protocol processor, for modulating the formatted digital data signals to output analog data signals, and also demodulating received analog data signals to output formatted digital data signals;

a first analog data port, connected to the data pump, for connecting to an analog port of a cellular telephone network mobile station;

a digital data port for making a digital data connection between the protocol processor and the cellular telephone network mobile station, the digital data connection carrying both said formatted digital data signals and call supervision signals; and

the protocol processor further responding to received call supervision signals to control modem operation in a first mode to route formatted digital data signals between the mobile station and the data terminal equipment through the data pump, and also control modem operation in a second mode to route formatted digital data signals between the mobile station and the data terminal equipment through the digital data connection along with the call supervision signals by-passing the data pump.

2. The modem as in claim 1 wherein the mobile station supports cellular communications over an analog air interface over which the analog data signals are carried in conjunction with the first mode of modem operation.

3. The modem as in claim 1 wherein the mobile station supports cellular communications over a digital air interface over which the formatted digital data signals are carried in conjunction with the second mode of modem operation.

4. The modem as in claim 1 wherein the mobile station comprises a dual mode mobile station operable in an analog mode when the modem is operating in the first mode of modem operation, and further operable in a digital mode when the modem is operating in the second mode of modem operation.

5. The modem as in claim 1 further including a second analog data port, connected to the data pump, for connecting to an analog telephone line of a wireline telephone network, the protocol processor further controlling modem operation in a third mode to route formatted data signals between the analog telephone line and the data terminal equipment through the data pump.

6. A modem, comprising:

a serial data port for connecting to data terminal equipment communicating using digital data signals;

a protocol processor, connected to the serial data port, for formatting and de-formatting the digital data signals;

a data pump, connected to the protocol processor, for modulating the formatted digital data signals to output analog data signals, and also demodulating received analog data signals to output formatted digital data signals;

a first analog data port, connected to the data pump, for connecting to an analog port of a cellular telephone network mobile station;

a multiplexer;

a digital data port for making a first digital data connection between the multiplexer and the cellular telephone network mobile station, the first digital data connection carrying both digital data signals and call supervision signals;

a second digital data connection between the multiplexer and the serial data port carrying digital data signals;

a control data connection between the multiplexer and the protocol processor carrying data and call supervision signals; and

the protocol processor further responding to received call supervision signals to control modem operation in a first mode to route formatted data signals between the mobile station and the data terminal equipment through the data pump, and also control modem operation and the multiplexer in a second mode to route data signals between the mobile station and the data terminal equipment through both the first digital data connection, along with the call supervision signals, and through the second digital data connection by-passing the data pump.

7. The modem as in claim 6 wherein the mobile station supports cellular communications over an analog air interface over which the analog data signals are carried in conjunction with the first mode of modem operation.

8. The modem as in claim 6 wherein the mobile station supports cellular communications over a digital air interface over which the digital data signals are carried in conjunction with the second mode of modem operation.

9. The modem as in claim 6 wherein the mobile station comprises a dual mode mobile station operable in an analog mode when the modem is operating in the first mode of modem operation, and further operable in a digital mode when the modem is operating in the second mode of modem operation.

10. The modem as in claim 6 further including a second analog data port, connected to the data pump, for connecting to an analog telephone line of a wireline telephone network, the protocol processor further controlling modem operation in a third mode to route formatted data signals between the analog telephone line and the data terminal equipment through the data pump.

11. The modem as in claim 6 further including:

a third digital data connection between the processor and the multiplexer; and

the processor further responding to received call supervision signals to control modem operation in another mode to route formatted data signals between the mobile station and the data terminal equipment through both the first digital data connection, along with the call supervision signals, and through the third digital data connection.

12. The modem as in claim 11 wherein the mobile station comprises a dual mode mobile station operable in an analog mode when the modem is operating in the first mode of modem operation, and further operable in a digital mode when the modem is operating in either the second or the another mode of modem operation.

13. A modem, comprising:

means for making a serial data connection with a data terminal equipment which communicates using digital data signals;

a data pump for modulating the data terminal equipment transmitted digital data signals to output analog data signals, and also demodulating received analog data signals to output digital data signals to the data terminal equipment;

means for making a first analog data connection with a cellular telephone network mobile station to carry the analog data signals;

means for making a digital data connection with the cellular telephone network mobile station to carry both digital data signals and call supervision signals; and

a processor responsive to received call supervision signals for controlling modem operation in a first mode to route data signals between the mobile station and the data terminal equipment through the data pump, and for also controlling modem operation in a second mode to route data signals between the mobile station and the data terminal equipment through the digital data connection, along with the call supervision signals, by-passing the data pump.

14. The modem as in claim 13 wherein the mobile station supports cellular communications over an analog air interface over which the analog data signals are carried in conjunction with the first mode of modem operation.

15. The modem as in claim 13 wherein the mobile station supports cellular communications over a digital air interface over which the digital data signals are carried in conjunction with the second mode of modem operation.

16. The modem as in claim 13 wherein the mobile station comprises a dual mode mobile station operable in an analog mode when the modem is operating in the first mode of modem operation, and further operable in a digital mode when the modem is operating in the second mode of modem operation.

17. The modem as in claim 13 further including means for making a second analog data connection with an analog telephone line of a wireline telephone network, the processor further controlling modem operation in a third mode to route data signals between the analog telephone line and the data terminal equipment through the data pump.

18. The modem as in claim 13 further including:

a multiplexer connected to the means for making a digital data connection with the cellular telephone network mobile station;

a first digital communications link between the means for making a serial data connection with the data terminal equipment and the processor;

a second digital communications link between the means for making a serial data connection with the data terminal equipment and the multiplexer;

a third digital communications link between the processor and the multiplexer;

wherein the multiplexer is controlled in the second mode of modem operation to route the data signals through the processor via the first and third digital communications links; and

the processor further responsive to received call supervision signals for controlling the multiplexer and modem operation in another mode to route data signals between the mobile station and the data terminal equipment through both the digital data connection, along with the call supervision signals, and through the second digital communications link.

19. The modem as in claim 18 wherein the mobile station comprises a dual mode mobile station operable in an analog mode when the modem is operating in the first mode of modem operation, and further operable in a digital mode when the modem is operating in either the second or the another mode of modem operation.