Modem and communications control selection

• US 5,961,608 A
• Filed: 10/04/1996
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kuboyama, Masafumi, Mugura, Kazuto, Onosaka, Kazunobu, Karmel, Clayton R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/726,132
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.79, 375/222, 379/93.32, 379/93.34, 370/17, 455/553, 455/552, 455/556, 455/557, 455/558, 455/575, 709/249, 709/228, 710/11
• US Class Current: 709/249
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks

Abstract

A simple, flexible and easy-to-use user interface and control mechanism for remote communication supports multiple modems or phone lines being connected and disconnected from a computing or "info-tainment" apparatus. This facilitates remote communications on different types of communications lines and from different locations. The user selects among modems, phone lines or other communication devices by simply physically connecting or disconnecting them from the computer, which is automatically detected. The default response is to select the newly connected modem or line as the currently active communication device, or to activate any other currently connected communication device when the active device is disconnected. A modem and location selection menu pops up giving the user a chance either to confirm or alter this selection. Application software uses an operating system interface to access a communication network via the selected device, which allows the modem selection to apply to all applications software. Also, a communication device'"'"'s parameters are set up based on the user selecting a "location" parameter, whose value indicates an area within which the apparatus is coupled to the communication network. The modem initialization string, access prefix, account code, phone number to dial and/or whether an area code is dialed can be altered based on how the user sets up the current location--the location "cellular" can select a modem initialization string for an appropriate baud-rate range and protocol and can alter the access number of the communication service provider to dial into cellular-capable modems.

Claims

1. A method of selecting among communication devices for use with a programmable apparatus, comprising the apparatus performing the steps of:

detecting a transition in a physical connection between a communication device and the apparatus;

when the transition connects the communication device and the apparatus, then selecting the communication device;

when the transition disconnects the communication device and the apparatus, then deselecting the communication device;

wherein application software that executes on the apparatus and that uses an operating system interface to a communication network accesses the network via the selected communication device; and

wherein the network is selected from a group consisting of the public switched telephone network (PSTN), a cellular telephone connection, a private telephone network, an integrated systems digital network (ISDN), an adaptive differential subscriber line (ADSL), a frame relay network, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, a personal communications services (PCS) network, an IRIDIUM network and a TELEDESIC network.

2. A portable user apparatus for use with a plurality of communication devices, comprising:

a circuit that detects a transition in a physical connection between one of the plurality of communication devices and the apparatus, the circuit generating, in response to the transition, a signal identifying the communication device and whether the transition connected or disconnected the identified device and the apparatus; and

a processor that executes an application program under the control of an operating system;

wherein the operating system provides to the application program an interface for accessing a communication network via a communication device selected by a user from the plurality of communication devices, the operating system in response to the connect signal selecting the identified device and deselecting any previously selected device, and the operating system in response to the disconnect signal deselecting the identified device, wherein the network is selected from the group consisting essentially of the public switched telephone network (PSTN), a cellular telephone connection, a private telephone network, an integrated systems digital network (ISDN), an adaptive differential subscriber line (ADSL), a frame relay network, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, a personal communications services (PCS) network, an IRIDIUM network and a TELEDESIC network.

3. A method of setting up a communication device for use with a apparatus, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

displaying to a user of the apparatus a menu that includes a location parameter whose value is selected from a plurality of locations, each location corresponding to an area within which the apparatus may be coupled to a communication network;

accepting from the user a confirmation of the current location value; and

selecting, based on location value, a communication initialization command that controls communication over the network, wherein the communication network is selected from the group consisting of the public switched telephone network (PSTN), a cellular telephone connection, a private telephone network, an integrated systems digital network (ISDN), an adaptive differential subscriber line (ADSL), a frame relay network, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, a personal communications services (PCS) network, an IRIDIUM network and a TELEDESIC network.