Programmable universal interface system
DCFirst Claim
1. A system for transferring data using a selected one of a plurality of telephone network access devices including at least one radiotelephone network access device when supplied with one of a plurality of different software drivers having the operating commands necessary for controlling the selected telephone network access devices, comprising:
- computer means for processing data transferable over the telephone network access device, and having a data communications program; and
modem means operably connected to the computer means for transferring data between said computer means and a remote data transfer device over said radiotelephone network access devices, said modem means comprising a single integrated portable unit including;
data lines internal to the modem means for carrying the data passing between the modem means and the radiotelephone network access device;
control signal lines internal to the modem means for carrying control signals for controlling and/or monitoring the operation of said radiotelephone network access device;
jack means connected to said control signal lines and said data lines for providing an external connection of said data lines and signal lines to said radiotelephone network access device; and
modem controller means connected to said computer means and said control signal lines for controlling the operation of said modem means, said modem controller means operating to access one of the plurality of software drivers for operating said modem means in conjunction with the selected one of said plurality of telephone network access devices to cause the operation of said control signal lines to be varied in response to said software driver to permit the control of call placement functions of the selected telephone network access device by said modem means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system including a portable computer with a central processing unit and associated software, and a modem with an output jack carrying data transmit (TX), data receive (RX), tip, ring, and programmable digital input/output (DIO) lines sufficient to facilitate control of a large number of alternative telephone access devices. The operation and functions of the tip, ring, TX, RX and programmable DIO lines are controlled in a preferred embodiment by software in the modem under the control of the software in the computer. In a preferred embodiment, a user operates the software in the computer to specify a type or model of telephone access device being used with the modem, and the RX, TX, tip and ring lines are rendered either operable or inoperable, and a required subset of the programmable DIO lines are caused to operate in a manner necessary to achieve interactive control of an attached telephone access device.
261 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A system for transferring data using a selected one of a plurality of telephone network access devices including at least one radiotelephone network access device when supplied with one of a plurality of different software drivers having the operating commands necessary for controlling the selected telephone network access devices, comprising:
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computer means for processing data transferable over the telephone network access device, and having a data communications program; and modem means operably connected to the computer means for transferring data between said computer means and a remote data transfer device over said radiotelephone network access devices, said modem means comprising a single integrated portable unit including; data lines internal to the modem means for carrying the data passing between the modem means and the radiotelephone network access device; control signal lines internal to the modem means for carrying control signals for controlling and/or monitoring the operation of said radiotelephone network access device; jack means connected to said control signal lines and said data lines for providing an external connection of said data lines and signal lines to said radiotelephone network access device; and modem controller means connected to said computer means and said control signal lines for controlling the operation of said modem means, said modem controller means operating to access one of the plurality of software drivers for operating said modem means in conjunction with the selected one of said plurality of telephone network access devices to cause the operation of said control signal lines to be varied in response to said software driver to permit the control of call placement functions of the selected telephone network access device by said modem means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for transferring data using a selected one of a plurality of telephone network access devices including at least one radiotelephone network access device when supplied with one of a plurality of different software drivers having the operating commands necessary for controlling the selected telephone network access devices, comprising:
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computer means for processing data transferable over the telephone network access device, and having a data communications program; and modem means operably connected to the computer means for transferring data between said computer means and a remote data transfer device over said telephone network access devices, said modem means comprising data pump means for transferring data between the modem means and the telephone network access device; a tip-and-ring interface operatively connected to said data pump means for carrying signals between the modem means and said telephone network access device at least when said telephone network access device operates using a tip and ring interface; receive and transmit data lines operatively connected to said data pump means to provide a receive line and transmit line interface for carrying data between the modem means and said telephone network access device at least when said telephone network access device operates using a receive line and transmit line interface; control signal lines for carrying control signals for controlling and/or monitoring the operation of said radiotelephone network access device; modem controller means connected to said computer means, said control signal lines, said tip and ring interface, and said data pump means for controlling the operation of said modem means by accessing one of the plurality of software drivers for operating said modem means in conjunction with the selected one of said plurality of telephone network access devices to cause the operation of said control signal lines to be varied in response to said software driver to permit the control of call placement functions of the selected telephone network access device by said modem means; and jack means connected to said control signal lines, said data lines, and said tip and ring interface for providing an external connection of said tip and ring interface, said receiving line and transmit line interface, and said control signal lines as required to operably connect the modem means to said selected telephone network access device. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A single integrated portable modem unit for installation on a portable computer means for sending and receiving data over a standard cellular radiotelephone network, having basic circuits compatible with a plurality of portable radiotelephone network access devices responding to predetermined call placement function commands and adapted for a particular type of radiotelephone network access device by provision of a device-specific program control component and a cable connection, comprising:
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(1) a single integrated portable hardware portion adapted for installation on a variety of said portable computer means for use with at least one said radiotelephone network access device, including at least; (a) a standardized connector mating with a corresponding connector in the computer means to operably connect the modem for data transfer with the computer means; (b) data pump means for modulating data signals received from the computer means to adapt the data signals for transmission to the remote data transfer device over the cellular radiotelephone network and for demodulating data signals received from the remote data transfer device over the cellular radiotelephone network for transfer to the computer means; (c) a receive and transmit interface including a receive line and a transmit line connected with said data pump means and adapted to be connected with the radiotelephone network access device for carrying data between the data pump means and the radiotelephone network access device; (d) memory means for storing a software driver for generating operating commands for controlling unique call placement functions of the radiotelephone network access device; (e) a plurality of control signal lines adapted to carry control signals for controlling and/or monitoring call placement functions of the radiotelephone network access device; (f) modem controller means connected to said control signal lines, said receive and transmit interface, said data pump means and said memory means for controlling the operation of the modem to allow data to be exchanged between the computer means and the remote data transfer device through the receive and transmit interface when the modem is connected to the radiotelephone network access device and for controlling the call placement functions of the radiotelephone network access device through said control lines and said receive and transmit interface as determined by the software drive stored in said memory means; (2) a jack means connected to said control signal lines and said data lines for providing an external connection to the radiotelephone network access device of said receive line and transmit line interface and a number of said control signal lines as required to operably connect the modem to the radiotelephone network access device; (3) a multi-line cable means having a connector compatible with said jack means at one end thereof and a connector compatible with the radiotelephone network access device at another end thereof for operably connecting said jack means to the specific radiotelephone network access device; and (4) at least one said software driver installed in said memory means containing information for generating call placement function commands on the control signal lines in conjunction with line connections established by the cable means so that said modem controller means uses said software driver to generate call placement function commands for transmission through said cable means to predetermined terminals on the radiotelephone network access device appropriately connected thereto to control call placement functions of the radiotelephone network access device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification