Software modem having a multi-task plug-in architecture

• US 6,427,178 B2
• Filed: 11/16/1998
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PCTEL, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tamir, Tal, Collin, Zeev
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US09/193,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1, 710/33, 709/1, 709/3, 709/8, 709/303, 709/301
• US Class Current: 710/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/022 by sampling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

A multi-task structure for a software modem including a plurality of self-contained executable entities. The executable entities include at least a controller and a data pump with the controller operating as an interface between an operating system driver and the data pump when signals are passed from the operating system driver to the data pump. In addition, the data pump includes at least a scheduler and a hardware driver, the scheduler interacting with additional self-contained executable entities and enabling the data pump to operate using one or more individual ones of the additional self-contained executable entities according to the signals passed from the controller to the data pump.

Claims

1. A modem driver for operation in a computer system having a memory, said modem driver comprising:

a first driver module including a scheduler; and

a plurality of second driver modules;

wherein said first driver module is loaded into said memory, and wherein said scheduler loads one or more of said second driver modules into said memory or unloads one or more of said second driver modules from said memory.

2. The modem driver of claim 1, wherein said first driver module further includes a datapump abstraction layer, a sampler and a hardware driver.

3. The modem driver of claim 2, wherein said first driver module further includes a controller.

4. The modem driver of claim 1, wherein one of said second driver modules is a fax driver.

5. The modem driver of claim 1, wherein one of said second driver modules is a V.90 driver.

6. The modem driver of claim 1, wherein one of said second driver modules is a tone generator driver.

7. The modem driver of claim 1, wherein one of said second driver modules is a speaker phone driver.

8. A method of employing a software modem driver having a first driver module and a plurality of second driver modules in a computer system having a memory, said method comprising the steps of:

loading said first driver module, including a scheduler, into said memory; and

scheduling one or more of said plurality of second driver modules by said scheduler for execution by said computer system;

wherein said scheduling step includes a step of loading one or more of said second driver modules into said memory and a step of unloading one or more of said second driver modules from said memory.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said first driver module further includes a datapump abstraction layer, a sampler and a hardware driver.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said first driver module further includes a controller.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein one of said second driver modules is a fax driver.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein one of said second driver modules is a V.90 driver.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein one of said second driver modules is a tone generator driver.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein one of said second driver modules is a speaker phone driver.

15. A modem system for operation in a computer system having a memory, said modem system comprising:

a first driver module including a scheduler;

a plurality of second driver modules;

a codec for use by one or more of said driver modules; and

a data access arrangement in communication with said codec;

wherein said first driver module is loaded into said memory, and wherein said scheduler loads one or more of said second driver modules into said memory or unloads one or more of said second driver modules from said memory.

16. The modem system of claim 15, wherein said first driver module further includes a datapump abstraction layer, a sampler and a hardware driver.

17. The modem system of claim 16, wherein said first driver module further includes a controller.

18. The modem system of claim 15, wherein one of said second driver modules is a fax driver.

19. The modem system of claim 15, wherein one of said second driver modules is a V.90 driver.

20. The modem system of claim 15, wherein one of said second driver modules is a tone generator driver.

21. The modem system of claim 15, wherein one of said second driver modules is a speaker phone driver.