System and method for connecting and interfacing a communications device to a telephone line via a telephone set

• US 6,222,910 B1
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Price, Tim U., Aldous, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/087,377
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.05, 379/93-8-, 379/93.17, 379/93-8-, 379/378, 379/442-443, 379/902, 379/100-5-1, 375/220, 375/222-223, 375/377
• US Class Current: 379/93.37
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a novel system and method for connecting and interfacing a communications device, such as a modem, to a two-wire telephone line via a telephone base set, thereby allowing for data or voice communications on the telephone line. The modem and the telephone base are interconnected by way of an interface adapter, which also provides a connector for connecting the telephone'"'"'s handset. Relay circuitry present within the interface adapter automatically switches between a data mode state and a voice mode state, depending upon what kind of communication is desired over the telephone line. In a preferred embodiment, the system also includes a cable detector circuit that allows the modem to automatically detect when it is connected to a telephone base by way of the interface adapter. Also disclosed, is a novel method for programming the host computer connected to the modem, and the communication processor located on the modem. The program method controls and automates the connection sequence and also functions so as to allow for the calculation of the particular transmit volume level to be used by the modem depending upon the particular type of telephone base to which it is connected. In one preferred embodiment, the program method automatically calculates the optimum transmit volume to be used. In another embodiment, the user selects from a displayed list of telephone base types and, depending upon the telephone type selected, the correct transmit volume will be determined.

Claims

1. A connection system for interfacing with a two-wire telephone line, the connection system comprising:

a communication device having both a pair of communication device transmitting wires and a pair of communication device receiving wires, including a programmable communication processor disposed on the communication device, the communication processor capable of programmably causing the generation of a transmit signal having a preselected amplitude to the telephone base via the interface adapter when in the data mode state;

wherein the programmable host processor performs the following programmable steps;

(a) causing a plurality of telephone base types to be displayed on a computer display that is operatively connected to the host computer, wherein each telephone base type has associated therewith an amplitude value;

(b) selecting one of the displayed amplitude values in response to a user input at a computer input device that is operatively connected to the host computer; and

(c) causing the communication processor to use the selected amplitude value as the amplitude of the transmit signal provided to the telephone base when in the data mode state;

a host computer having a programmable host processor which is operatively coupled to the communication device;

a telephone set base capable of connection to the two-wire telephone line, and further having a pair of base transmitting wires and a pair of base receiving wires for detachable interconnection with a telephone handset; and

an interface adapter capable of selectively interconnecting both the pair of communication device transmitting wires and the pair of communication device receiving wires with the corresponding pair of base transmitting wires and the pair of base receiving wires, whereby the communication device is capable of communicating data to the two-wire telephone line in a data mode state.

2. A connection system as defined in claim 1, wherein the interface adapter further comprises a telephone handset connector capable of interconnecting a pair of handset transmitting wires and a pair of handset receiving wires provided by a telephone handset to the corresponding pair of base transmitting wires and the pair of base receiving wires, whereby the telephone handset is capable of communicating voice signals to the two-wire telephone line in a voice mode state.

3. A connection system as defined in claim 2, wherein the interface adapter further comprises relay means for automatically switching between the voice mode state and the data mode state in response to a control signal generated by the communication device.

4. A connection system as defined in claim 3 wherein the control signal is the off-hook signal.

5. A connection system as defined in claim 1, further comprising cable detector means for detecting whether the communication device is electrically connected to the interface adapter.

6. A connection system as defined in claim 5, wherein the cable detector means comprises:

indicator circuit means, disposed on the interface adapter, for generating a cable connection signal; and

detection circuit means, disposed on the communication device and responsive to the cable connection signal, for generating a cable detect signal, the cable detect signal being indicative of whether the communication device is electrically connected to the interface circuit.

7. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the programmable steps recited in claim 1.

8. A connection system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a host computer having a programmable host processor which is operatively coupled to the communication device; and

a programmable communication processor disposed on the communication device, the communication processor capable of programmably causing the generation of a transmit signal having an optimum amplitude to the telephone base via the interface adapter when in the data mode state, wherein the programmable communication processor automatically calculates the optimum amplitude depending on the particular telephone base that is connected to the interface adapter.

9. A connection system as defined in claim 8, wherein the programmable communication processor automatically calculates the optimum amplitude by performing the following programmable steps:

(a) sending a transmit signal having an pre-selected amplitude value to the telephone base;

(b) evaluating the quality of a resulting receive signal from the telephone base;

(c) if the quality of the receive signal is acceptable, increasing the amplitude value by a predetermined amount;

(d) repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) until the quality of the resulting receive signal is not acceptable;

(e) decreasing the amplitude value that resulted in an unacceptable receive signal by a predetermined amount and use the resulting value as the optimum amplitude for the telephone base.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the programmable steps recited in claim 9.

11. A connection system as defined in claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a computer modem.

12. A connection system as defined in claim 11, wherein the computer modem is a PCMCIA modem.

13. A connection system for interfacing with a two-wire telephone line, the connection system comprising:

a modem having a pair of modem transmitting wires and a pair of modem receiving wires, including a progammable communication processor means, disposed on the modem, for providing a transmit signal having a preselected amplitude to the telephone base via the base connector means when the relay means is in said data mode state;

wherein the programmable host processor performs the following programmable steps;

(a) causing a plurality of telephone base types to be displayed on a computer display that is operatively connected to the host computer, wherein each telephone base type has associated therewith an amplitude value;

(b) selecting one of the displayed amplitude values in response to a user input at a computer input device that is operatively connected to the host computer; and

(c) causing the communication processor to use the selected amplitude value as the amplitude of the transmit signal provided to the telephone base when in the data mode state;

a host computer, the host computer having a programmable host processor that is operatively coupled to the modem;

a telephone set base capable of connection to the two-wire telephone line, and further having both a pair of base transmitting wires and a pair of base receiving wires for detachable interconnection with a telephone handset that includes a pair of handset transmitting wires and the pair of handset receiving wires;

an interface adapter comprising;

handset connector means for electrically connecting to both the pair of handset transmitting wires and the pair of handset receiving wires of the telephone handset;

base connector means for electrically connecting to both the pair of base transmitting wires and the pair of base receiving wires of the telephone set base;

communication device connector means for electrically connecting to the pair of modem transmitting wires and the pair of modem receiving wires of the modem; and

relay means for automatically switching between a voice mode state and a data mode state, whereby in the voice mode state both the pair of handset transmitting wires and the pair of handset receiving wires are each electrically coupled to the corresponding pair of base transmitting wires and base receiving wires, and in the data mode state both the pair of modem transmitting wires and the pair of modem receiving wires are each electrically coupled to the corresponding pair of base transmitting wires and base receiving wires.

14. A connection system as defined in claim 13 further comprising cable detector means for detecting whether the modem is electrically connected to the interface adapter.

15. A connection system as defined in claim 14, wherein the cable detector means comprises:

indicator circuit means, disposed on the interface adapter, for generating a cable connection signal; and

detection circuit means, disposed on the modem, for detecting the status of the cable connection signal so as to determine whether the modem is operatively connected to the interface adapter.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the programmable steps recited in claim 13.

17. A connection system as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

a host computer having a programmable host processor which is operatively coupled to the modem; and

a programmable communication processor disposed on the modem, the communication processor capable of programmably causing the generation of a transmit signal having an optimum amplitude to the telephone base via the interface adapter when in the data mode state, wherein the programmable communication processor automatically calculates the optimum amplitude depending on the particular telephone base that is connected to the interface adapter.

18. A connection system as defined in claim 17, wherein the programmable communication processor automatically calculates the optimum amplitude by performing the following programmable steps:

(a) sending a transmit signal having an pre-selected amplitude value to the telephone base;

(b) evaluating the quality of a resulting receive signal from the telephone base;

(c) if the quality of the receive signal is acceptable, increasing the amplitude value by a predetermined amount;

(d) repeating steps (a), (b,) and (c) until the quality of the resulting receive signal is not acceptable;

(e) decreasing the amplitude value that resulted in an unacceptable receive signal by a predetermined amount and use the resulting value as the optimum amplitude for the telephone base.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the programmable steps recited in claim 18.

20. A connection system as defined in claim 13, wherein the relay means comprises a solid-state relay device that is operable so as to automatically switch between the voice mode state or the data mode state in response to the electrical level of an off-hook signal generated by the modem.

21. A connection system as defined in claim 13, wherein the handset connector means is comprised of a modular telephone handset jack, the handset jack being capable of detachably receiving a handset plug that is electrically connected to the telephone handset.

22. A connection system as defined in claim 13, wherein the base connector means is comprised of a modular telephone base jack, the base jack being capable of detachably receiving a base plug that is electrically connected to the telephone base.

23. A connection system as defined in claim 13, wherein the communication device connector means is comprised of a modular data jack, the data jack being capable of detachably receiving a data plug that is electrically connected to the communication device.

24. A connection system as defined in claim 13, wherein the modem is a PCMCIA modem that is operatively coupled to a host computer via a PCMCIA compliant socket.

25. A connection system for interfacing with a two-wire telephone line, the connection system comprising:

a PCMCIA modem having both a pair of modem transmitting wires and a pair of modem receiving wires;

a telephone base capable of connection to the two-wire telephone line, and further having a pair of base transmitting wires and a pair of base receiving wires for detachable interconnection with a telephone handset that includes a pair of handset transmitting wires and a pair of handset receiving wires;

an interface adapter comprising;

a modular telephone handset jack, the handset jack being capable of detachably receiving a handset plug that is electrically connected to the telephone handset;

a modular telephone base jack, the base jack being capable of detachably receiving a base plug that is electrically connected to the telephone base;

a modular data jack, the data jack being capable of detachably receiving a data plug that is electrically connected to both the pair of modem transmitting wires and the pair of modem receiving wires of the PCMCIA modem; and

a relay circuit capable of automatically switching between a voice mode state and a data mode state depending on the electrical level of an on-hook signal generated by the PCMCIA modem, whereby in the voice mode state the pair of handset transmitting wires and the pair of handset receiving wires are each electrically coupled to the corresponding pair of base transmitting wires and base receiving wires, and in the data mode state the pair of modem transmitting wires and the pair of modem receiving wires are each electrically coupled to the corresponding pair of base transmitting wires and base receiving wires;

a host computer having a programmable host processor that is operatively coupled to the PCMCIA modem; and

programmable communication processor disposed on the PCMCIA modem that is capable of providing a transmit signal having an optimum amplitude to the telephone base via the pair of modem transmitting wires when the relay circuit is in the data mode state, and wherein the optimum amplitude is determined by selecting from a plurality of telephone base types displayed on a computer display that is operatively connected to the host computer, a telephone base type to which corresponds an amplitude for that particular telephone base.

26. A connection system as defined in claim 25, wherein the optimum amplitude is determined automatically by the programmable communication processor.

27. In a connection system for connecting and for interfacing a modem to a telephone line via a telephone base, and wherein the modem is operatively coupled to a host computer comprising a computer input device, a computer display and a programmable host processor, a method for connecting the modem to the telephone base comprising the steps of:

automatically determining whether the modem is connected to the telephone base;

causing a plurality of telephone base types to be displayed on the computer display, wherein each telephone base type has associated therewith a amplitude magnitude value;

selecting one of said telephone base types in response to a user input at the computer input device;

causing the modem to use the amplitude value associated with the selected telephone base type as the amplitude of a transmit signal provided to the telephone base.

28. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method steps recited in claim 27.

29. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 28, further comprising the computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

waiting for a predetermined amount of time to detect a dial tone from the telephone base;

if a dial tone is not detected in said predetermined amount of time, causing a message to be displayed on the computer display instructing that a telephone handset portion of the telephone base be removed from the telephone base;

waiting for a second predetermined amount of time to detect a dial tone from the telephone base;

if a dial tone is detected in said second predetermined amount of time, causing said modem to automatically dial a preselected telephone number.