Multi-modem implementation with host based and digital signal processor based modems

• US 6,708,235 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Pearce, David, Smith, Wesley, Nordling, Karl, Gracias, Sebastian, Leinfelder, Karl, Beaney, Jim, Hindie, Amir
• Primary Examiner(s): Elamin, Abdelmoniem
• Application Number:
  US10/062,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20020108001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 710/23, 710/127, 713/100, 712/35, 712/248
• US Class Current: 710/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0008 arrangements for allowing a transmitter or receiver to use more than one type of modulation negotiating modulation type for two-way transmission paths H04L5/1453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0029 interpolation of received data signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0058 detection of error based on equalizer tap values
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

A plurality of modems or modem types can run on a host processor, a digital signal processor or both, either concurrently or selectively. Modules of more than one modem program can be swapped in and out of DSP memory space. Common modem code can be run on either a host processor or on a DSP using respective command libraries.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, first modem data related to a first modem;

selecting a first modem program from a set of modem programs, based, at least in part, on a state of the first modem;

loading the first modem program into the processor,

processing the first modem data using the first modem program;

receiving, by the processor, second modem data related to a second modem;

selecting a second modem program from the set of modem programs, based, at least in part, on a state of the second modem;

loading the second modem program into the processor; and

processing the second modem data using the second modem program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modem data comprises digital signals arriving from or destined to the first modem.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second modem program is selected from a subset of the set of modem programs different from the subset of modem programs containing the first modem program.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the state of a modem determines the signal processing functionality to be performed on the modem data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein loading a modem program is performed using a direct memory access controller.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor is a digital signal processor (DSP).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modem comprises a controllerless modem.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a bus communicatively coupling a plurality of modems;

a processor coupled to the bus, the processor receiving modem data from the plurality of modems and providing functionality to the plurality of modems;

a memory coupled to the bus, the memory storing a set of modem programs;

wherein a modem program from the set of modem programs is loaded into the processor to provide functionality to a selected modem from the plurality of modems, the modem program selected based on an identity of the selected modem and a state of the selected modem.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the identity of the selected modem is based on the processor cycling through the plurality of modems that have a need for functionality provision.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a DMA controller for loading modem programs from the memory to the processor.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first modem comprises a controllerless modem.

12. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions that, if executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive first modem data related to a first modem;

select a first modem program from a set of modem programs, based, at least in part, on a state of the first modem;

load the first modem program into the processor;

process the first modem data using the first modem program;

receive second modem data related to a second modem;

select a second modem program from the set of modem programs, based, at least in part, on a state of the second modem;

load the second modem program into the processor; and

process the second modem data using the second modem program.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first modem data comprises digital signals arriving from or destined to the first modem.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the second modem program is selected from a subset of the set of modem programs different from the subset of modem programs containing the first modem program.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the state of a modem determines the signal processing functionality to be performed on the modem data.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein loading a modem program is performed using a direct memory access controller.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the processor is a digital signal processor (DSP).

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first modem comprises a controllerless modem.