High performance communications interface

• US 6,816,544 B1
• Filed: 05/30/1997
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bailey, Jay Patrick, Copley, Brian J., Freitas, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesghen
• Application Number:
  US08/866,911
• Time in Patent Office: 2,720 Days
• Field of Search: 375/220, 375/222, 375/377, 375/295, 379/93.01, 364/241.9, 364/240.8
• US Class Current: 375/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/323 in the physical layer [OSI layer 1]
• 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 parallel interface is provided between a standard parallel port of a computer system and a modem so as to increase the data transfer rate between the two systems without modifying the hardware of the computer system and independently of the application program running on the computer system.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting information between data terminal equipment and data communications equipment, said method comprising the steps of:

incorporating said transmitted information in at least one information packet comprising a plurality of information units, said information packet including a command information unit and at least one parameter information unit;

providing said command information unit with means for indicating whether said at least one information packet contains control or status information or whether said at least one information packet contains data;

providing said command information unit with means for identifying control or status information contained in said at least one information racket if said at least one information packet contains control or status information and for indicating a length of said at least one information packet if said at least one information packet contains data; and

transmitting said at least one information packet between said data terminal equipment and said data communications equipment.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said command information unit is provided with means for indicating that said at least one information packet contains data and said at least one parameter information unit contains said data.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said command information unit is provided with means for indicating that said at least one information packet contains control information and only one parameter information unit containing said control information is incorporated in said at least one information packet.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said command information unit is provided with means for indicating that said at least one information packet contains status information and only one parameter information unit containing said status information is incorporated in said at least one information packet.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said command information unit is provided with means for indicating that said at least one information packet contains a status inquiry and the contents of any parameter information units are ignored.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting said at least one information packet between said data terminal equipment and said data communications equipment comprises transmitting said at least one information packet between a computer and a modem.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing said command information unit with means for indicating whether more data is available to transmit in additional information packets.

8. A system for transmitting information between data terminal equipment and data communications equipment, said system comprising:

a transmitter element adapted for incorporating said transmitted information in at least one information packet, said information packet comprising a command information unit and at least one parameter information unit, wherein said command information unit includes an indicating element adapted for indicating whether said at least one information packet contains control or status information or whether said at least one information packet contains data, and wherein said command information unit also includes an element adapted for identifying control or status information contained in said at least one information packet if said at least one information packet contains control or status information and adapted for indicating a length of said at least one information packet if said at least one information packet contains data.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said transmitter element is adapted for providing said command information unit with said indicating element indicating that said at least one information packet contains data and said at least one parameter information unit contains data.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein said transmitter element is adapted for providing said command information unit with said indicating element indicating that said at least one information packet contains control information and said transmitter element is adapted for providing only one parameter information unit containing said control information in said at least one information packet.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein said transmitter element is adapted for providing said command information unit with said indicating element indicating that said at least one information packet contains status information and said transmitter element is adapted for providing only one parameter information unit containing said status information in said at least one information packet.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein said transmitter element is adapted for providing said command information unit with said indicating element indicating that said at least one information packet contains a status inquiry and the contents of any parameter information units in said at least one information packet is not used.

13. A data terminal equipment apparatus adapted for transmitting information to a data communications equipment device;

said apparatus comprising;

a transmitter element adapted for incorporating said transmitted information in at least one information packet, said information packet comprising a command information unit and at least one parameter information unit, wherein said command information unit includes an indicating element indicating whether said information packet contains control or status information or whether said information packet contains data, and wherein said command information unit also includes an element adapted for identifying control or status information contained in said at least one information packet if said at least one information jacket contains control or status information and adapted for indicating a length of said at least one information packet if said at least one information packet contains data.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said transmitter element is adapted for providing said command information unit with said indicating element indicating that said information packet contains data and said at least one parameter information unit contains data.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said transmitter element is adapted for providing said command information unit with said indicating element indicating that said information packet contains control information and said transmitter element is adapted for providing only one parameter information unit containing said control information in said at least one information packet.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said transmitter element is adapted for providing said command information unit with said indicating element indicating that said information packet contains status information and said transmitter element is adapted for providing only one parameter information unit containing said status information in said at least one information packet.

17. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said transmitter element is adapted for providing said command information unit with said indicating element indicating that said information packet contains a status inquiry and the contents of any parameter information units in said at least one information packet is not used.

18. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said data terminal equipment apparatus comprises a computer adapted for transmitting information to a modem.

19. A data communications equipment apparatus adapted for transmitting information to a data terminal equipment device, said apparatus comprising:

a transmitter element adapted for providing said transmitted information in at least one information packet, said information packet comprising a command information unit and at least one parameter information unit, wherein said command information unit includes an indicating element indicating whether said information packet contains control or status information or whether said information packet contains data, and wherein said command information unit also includes an element identifying control or status information contained in said at least one information packet if said at least one information packet contains control or status information and indicating a length of said at least one information packet if said at least one information packet contains data.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said transmitter element is adapted for providing said command information unit with said indicating element indicating that said information packet contains data and said at least one parameter information unit contains data.

21. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said transmitter element is adapted for providing said command information unit with said indicating element indicating that said information packet contains control information and said transmitter element is adapted for providing only one parameter information unit containing said control information in said at least one information packet.

22. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said transmitter element is adapted for providing said command information unit with said indicator element indicating that said information packet contains status information and said transmitter element is adapted for providing only one parameter information unit containing said status information in said at least one information packet.

23. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said transmitter element is adapted for providing said command information unit with said indicating element indicating that said information packet contains a status inquiry and the contents of any parameter in formation units in said at least one information packet is not used.

24. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said data communications equipment apparatus comprises a modem adapted for transmitting information to a computer.