Adapter card that selects between an ISDN interface and an analog modem interface

• US 6,282,238 B1
• Filed: 05/28/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Landry, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHAYOUR, MOHAMMAD H
• Application Number:
  US09/322,954
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 375/222, 375/220, 710/31, 710/64, 370/264, 370/271, 370/419, 370/420, 370/463, 370/422, 379/90.02, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.16
• US Class Current: 375/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/253 Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0471 Terminal access circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13305 Transistors, semiconductors in general
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13396 Signaling in general, in-band signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF

Abstract

A computer includes an adapter. The adapter includes an ISDN connection capable of communicating ISDN signals between the computer and a remote device. The adapter also includes an analog modem connection capable of communicating analog modem signals between the computer and the remote device. A selector device selects either the ISDN connection or the modem connection with which to transfer information between the computer and the remote device. The adapter card may transfer either analog modem information or ISDN modem information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an adapter comprising;

an Integrated Services Digital Network connection capable of connecting from a first device to a remote device on an Integrated Services Digital Network channel, comprising a U interface processor to provide U-interface functions to the Integrated Services Digital Network channel, and an S/T interface processor to provide S/T interface functions to the Integrated Services Digital Network channel,

an analog modem connection comprising an analog modem and capable of connecting from the first device to the remote device, and

a selector device that selects between the Integrated Services Digital Network connection and the analog modem connection, the selector device comprising;

a digital signal processor;

a memory to store instructions to be executed by the digital signal processor;

an application specific integrated circuit coupled to the digital signal processor, the application specific integrated circuit to provide an external interface for the adapter to enable the digital signal processor to interact with a computer processor in the first device; and

a glue interface to translate information between the digital signal processor and the U interface processor, the S/T interface processor and the analog modem,

wherein the digital signal processor is responsive to commands from the computer processor in the first device to select the analog modem, the U interface processor or S/T interface processor for data transmission, the commands being received via the application specific integrated circuit.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the first device is a computer.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein the computer processor is configured to process Integrated Services Digital Network information received from remote locations.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein

the computer processor generates first information, and

wherein the digital signal processor generates digital signal processor information in response to the first information.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4, wherein the computer processor controls operation of the digital signal processor.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 4, wherein the digital signal processor controls operation of the U interface processor and the S/T interface processor.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the S/T interface processor enables connecting multiple remote devices to a subscriber loop.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the U interface processor enables connecting to a two-wire subscriber loop attached to only one remote device.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the adapter is coupled to a telephone.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 1,

wherein the digital signal processor generates digital signal processor information,

wherein the U interface processor generates first Integrated Services Digital Network signals in response to the digital signal processor information generated by the digital signal processor.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising establishing a modem communication between the first device and the remote device.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein the modem connection includes an Integrated Services Digital Network modem.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a computer;

an adapter coupled to the computer, the adapter comprising;

an Integrated Services Digital Network connection capable of communicating ISDN signals between the computer and a remote device on an Integrated Services Digital Network channel, the Integrated Services Digital Network connection comprising a U interface processor to provide U-interface functions to the Integrated Services Digital Network channel, and an S/T interface processor to provide S/T interface functions to the Integrated Services Digital Network channel;

an analog modem connection comprising an analog modem and capable of communicating analog modem signals between the computer and the remote device; and

a selector device configured to select either the Integrated Services Digital Network connection or the modem connection to transfer information between the computer and the remote device, the selector device comprising;

a digital signal processor;

a memory to store data and instructions to be executed by the digital signal processor;

an application specific integrated circuit coupled to the digital signal processor, the application specific integrated circuit to provide a computer interface for the adapter to enable the digital signal processor to interact with a computer processor in the computer; and

a glue interface to translate information between the digital signal processor and the U interface processor, the S/T interface processor and the analog modem,

wherein the digital signal processor is responsive to commands from the computer processor in the computer, to select the analog modem, the U interface processor or S/T interface processor for data transmission, the commands being received via the application specific integrated circuit.

14. The apparatus set forth in claim 13, wherein the digital signal processor operates in response to the computer processor.

15. The apparatus set forth in claim 13, wherein the computer processor is configured to process Integrated Services Digital Network information received from the remote device.

16. The apparatus set forth in claim 13, wherein the analog modem connection is configured to communicate modem communications between the computer and the remote device.

17. The apparatus set forth in claim 16, wherein the analog modem is an Integrated Services Digital Network modem.