Method and apparatus of providing a single state mobile unit in a modem connection comprising a wireless link

• US 6,914,965 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1994
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Karmi, Gadi, Grob, Matthew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maung, Nay Aung
• Application Number:
  US08/316,158
• Time in Patent Office: 3,931 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/61, 379/63, 375/222, 455/33.1, 455/54.1, 455/54.2
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method of providing a reliable method of entering command mode and executing modem commands with a modem comprising a wireless communications channel. A wireless communications channel inserted into a standard modem configuration splits the functions of the modem between a mobile unit and a base station. When the system enters command mode, only the base station equipment changes state. The mobile unit continues to operate in the same manner as when the system is in data mode. Any command issued in command mode requiring action from the mobile unit is first sent to the base station. The base station recognizes that the command is intended for the mobile unit and sends a mobile unit-command over an independent private command channel to the mobile unit. The mobile unit constantly monitors the private channel regardless of the state of the system. The mobile unit receives the command on the private command channel, executes the command, and returns any required result code to the terminal equipment.

Claims

1. A method of conveying a modem command from a terminal equipment unit to a modem comprised of a mobile unit, a multiple access communication link, and a base station, comprising the steps of:

receiving said modem command at said mobile unit from said terminal equipment, wherein said modem command comprises a command to be executed by one of;

said mobile unit, or said base station;

conveying without attempting to recognize by said mobile unit said modem command on a data channel over said multiple access communication link;

receiving said modem command at said base station;

analyzing said modem command at said base station to discern whether said modem command is to be executed by said mobile unit; and

executing said modem command by said base station if said modem command comprises said command to be executed by said base station.

2. A method of conveying said modem command of claim 1 further comprising the step of conveying by said base station a result code response on said command channel over said multiple access communication link commanding said mobile unit to transmit a result code to said terminal equipment wherein said result code indicates a successful or unsuccessful completion of said command to be executed by said base station.

3. A digital communication system comprising:

terminal equipment for providing a stream of standard digital data wherein said stream of standard digital data comprises remote modem information and local equipment commands;

a mobile unit for receiving said stream of standard digital data from said terminal equipment without attempting to recognize said local equipment commands and said remote modem information, for transmitting an information signal in response to said stream of standard digital data, and for receiving a private command signal;

a wireless link for conveying said information signal and said private command signal; and

a base station for receiving said information signal, for providing messaging in response to said remote modem information, and for sending said private command signal in response to said local equipment commands.

4. The digital communication system of claim 3 wherein said base station is further for receiving incoming messaging from a remote modem and providing a base station information signal in response to said incoming messaging, wherein said wireless link is further for conveying said base station information signal to said mobile unit, and wherein said mobile unit is further for receiving said base station information signal.

5. The digital communication system of claim 3 wherein said private command signal is a result code response indicating a successful or unsuccessful completion of said local modem command by said base station.

6. A method of commanding a modem communicating between a first terminal equipment unit and a second terminal equipment unit, said modem comprising a mobile unit and a base station each capable of digital communications, and wherein said first terminal equipment unit is producing digital data intended for said second terminal equipment unit, comprising the steps of:

receiving at said mobile unit said digital data from said first terminal equipment unit;

formatting at said mobile unit said digital data from said first terminal equipment unit;

modulating at said mobile unit said formatted digital data without attempting to recognize said digital data;

transmitting from said mobile unit said modulated formatted digital data on a wireless link;

receiving at said base station said transmitted modulated formatted digital data;

demodulating at said base station said received modulated formatted digital data to produce a copy of said formatted digital data;

converting at said base station said copy of said formatted digital data into a communication network message;

transmitting said communication network message over a communication network;

receiving at a remote modem said communication network message;

converting at said remote modem said communication network message into a copy of said digital data;

providing from said remote modem said copy of said digital data to said second terminal equipment unit;

receiving at said mobile unit an escape sequence from said first terminal equipment unit;

formatting at said mobile unit said escape sequence from said first terminal equipment unit;

modulating at said mobile unit said formatted escape sequence;

transmitting from said mobile unit said modulated formatted escape sequence on said wireless link;

receiving at said base station said transmitted modulated formatted escape sequence;

demodulating at said base station said received modulated formatted escape sequence;

recognizing said escape sequence at said base station and entering command mode in response thereto;

receiving at said mobile unit a base station command from said first terminal equipment unit;

formatting at said mobile unit said base station command from said first terminal equipment unit;

modulating at said mobile unit said formatted base station command;

transmitting from said mobile unit said modulated formatted base station command on said wireless link;

receiving at said base station said transmitted modulated formatted base station command;

demodulating at said base station said received modulated formatted base station command;

recognizing said base station command at said base station and acting in accordance thereto;

transmitting a result code message on a private command channel over said wireless link indicating a successful or unsuccessful completion of said base station command;

receiving at said mobile unit said result code message; and

providing by said mobile unit a result code to said terminal equipment unit.

7. The method of commanding a modem of claim 6 wherein said step of transmitting said modulated formatted escape sequence on said wireless link introduces a random time distortion in said received modulated formatted escape sequence wherein said step of formatting said escape sequence comprises the steps of:

recognizing a message having a fixed timing within said escape sequence wherein said fixed timing of said message conveys information; and

converting said message into a representative message having a unessential timing comprising said information.

8. A method of commanding a modem communicating between a first terminal equipment unit and a second terminal equipment unit, said modem comprising a mobile unit and a base station each capable of digital communications, and wherein said first terminal equipment unit is producing digital data intended for said second terminal equipment unit, comprising the steps of:

receiving at said mobile unit an escape sequence from said first terminal equipment unit;

formatting at said mobile unit said escape sequence from said first terminal equipment unit;

modulating at said mobile unit said formatted escape sequence without attempting to recognize said escape sequence;

transmitting from said mobile unit said modulated formatted escape sequence on said wireless link;

receiving at said base station said transmitted modulated formatted escape sequence;

demodulating at said base station said received modulated formatted escape sequence;

recognizing said escape sequence at said base station and entering command mode in response thereto;

receiving at said mobile unit a base station command from said first terminal equipment unit;

formatting at said mobile unit said base station command from said first terminal equipment unit;

modulating at said mobile unit said formatted base station command;

transmitting from said mobile unit said modulated formatted base station command on said wireless link;

receiving at said base station said transmitted modulated formatted base station command;

demodulating at said base station said received modulated formatted base station command;

recognizing said base station command at said base station and acting in accordance thereto;

transmitting a result code message on a private command channel over said wireless link indicating a successful or unsuccessful completion of said base station command;

receiving at said mobile unit said result code message; and

providing by said mobile unit a result code to said terminal equipment unit.

9. The method of commanding a modem of claim 8 wherein said step of transmitting said modulated formatted escape sequence on said wireless link introduces a random time distortion in said received modulated formatted escape sequence wherein said step of formatting said escape sequence comprises the steps of:

recognizing a message having a fixed timing within said escape sequence wherein said fixed timing of said message conveys information; and

converting said message into a representative message having a unessential timing comprising said information.

10. A method of conveying a modem command from a terminal equipment unit to a modem comprised of a mobile unit, a multiple access communication link, and a base station, comprising the steps of:

receiving said modem command at said mobile unit from said terminal equipment, said modem command being intended to be executed by said mobile unit;

forwarding said modem command from said mobile unit via said multiple access communication link without said mobile unit attempting to recognize said modem command;

receiving said modem command at said base station; and

transmitting a private command representative of said modem command from said base station to said mobile unit.