System and method for interfacing computers to diverse telephone networks

Claims

I claim:

1. A system for connecting a computer device for data transmission over a telephone network which can be accessed through a telephone network access device responsive to device-specific command signals to perform a network accessing function, comprising:

a. control means for controllng the transmission of computer data between the computer device and the telephone network and for generating a generic command signal representative of a desired telephone network access device newtwork accessing function and transmitting the generic command signal over a command signal bus;

b. modem means connectable to the computer device and connected to the control means for processing the computer data signals transmitted between the computer device and the telephone network; and

c. interface means selectively connectable between the modem means and control means and the telephone network access device for generating and transmitting device-specific command signals compatible with at least the particular telephone network access device in use and adapted to control said network accessing function of the telephone network access device in response to generic command signals received from the control means through said command signal bus, and including a bus separate from said command signal bus for transmitting data between the modem means and the telephone network;

wherein the generic command signals generated by the control means are transmitted to the interface means using digital transmission means, therein the data transmitted between the modem means and the telephone network is carried on transmission lines separate from the digital transmission means carrying generic commands signals between the control means and the interface means, and

wherein the interface means transmits an alert sequence signal to the control means using the digital transmission means in response to signals from the telephone network access device indicative of an incoming call.

2. A system for connecting a computer device for data transmission over a telephone network which can be accessed through a telephone network access device responsive to device-specific command signals to perform a network accessing function, comprising:

a. control means for controlling the transmission of computer data between the computer device and the telephone network and for generating a generic command signal representative of a desired telephone network access device network accessing function and tansmitting the generic command signal over a command signal bus;

b. modem means connectable to the computer device and connected to the control means for processing the computer data signals transmitted between the computer device and the telephone network; and

c. interface means selectively connectable between the modem means and control means and the telephone network access device for generating and tansmitting device-specific command signals compatible with at least the particular telephone network access device in use and adapted to control said network accessing function of the telephone network access device in response to generic command signals received from the control means through said command signal bus, and including a bus separate from said command signal bus for transmitting data between the modem means and the telephone network;

wherein the system is adapted for selective use with either a cellular telephone network or a landline telephone network.

3. A system for connecting a computer device for data transmissions over a telephone network which can be accessed through a telephone network access device responsibe to device-specific command signals to perform a network accessing function, comprising:

a. control means for controlling the transmission of computer data between the computer device and the telephone network and for generating a generic command signal representative of a desired telephone network access device network accessing function and transmitting the generic command signal over a command signal bus;

b. modem means connectable to the computer device and connected to the control means for processing the computer data signals transmitted between the computer device and the telephone network; and

c. interface means selectively connectable between the modem means and control means and the telephone network access device for generating and transmitting device-specific command signals compatible with at least the particular telephone network access device in use and adapted to control said network accessing function of the telephone network access device in response to generic command signals received from the control means through said command signal bus, and including a bus separate from said command signal bus for transmitting data between the modem means and the telephone network, wherein the generic command signals include signals requesting telephone network access device status information.

4. A system for connecting a computer device for data transmission over a telephone network which can be accessed through a telephone network access device responsive to device-specific command signals to perform a network accessing function, comprising:

a. control means for controlling the transmission of computer data between the computer device and the telephone network and for generating a generic command signal representative of a desired telephone network access device network accessing function and transmitting the generic command signal over a command signal bus;

b. modem means connectable to the computer device and connected to the control means for processing the computer data signals transmitted between the computer device and the telephone network; and

c. interface means selectively connectable between the modem means and control means and the telephone network access device for generating and tarnsmitting device-specific command signals compatible with at least the particular telephone network access device in use and adapted to control said network accessing function of the telephone network access device in response to generic command signals received from the control means through said command signal bus, and including a bus separate from said command signal bus for transmitting data between the modem means and the telephone network, wherein the interface means includes means for accepting bus designation information and selectively operates with one of a plurality of types of telephone network access devices depending on the bus designation information.

5. An interface for connecting a cellular data modem for transmission of computer data to a cellular telephone device, said cellular telephone device including a cellular bus, comprising:

a. analog interface means connectable between the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for transmitting signals representing computer data between the data modem and the cellular bus;

b. processing means connectable to the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for receiving generic command signals from the cellular data modem, processing the generic command signals to generate device-specific cellular telephone control signals adapted to control operation of the specific cellular telephone device attached to the interface device, and transmitting the device-specific cellular telephone control signals to the cellular bus, wherein the processing means further operates to receive cellular telephone device status indication signals from the cellular bus and provide signals indicative of cellular telephone device status to the cellular data modem.

6. An inerface for connecting a cellular data modem for tansmission of computer data to a cellular telephone device, said cellular telephone device including a cellular bus, comprising:

a. analog interface means connectable between the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for transmitting signals representing computer data between the data modem and the cellular bus;

b. processing means connectable to the cellular data moden and the cellular bus for receiving generic command signals from the cellular data modem, processing 175 device-specific cellular telephone control signals adapted to control operation of the specific cellular telephone device attached to the interface device, and transmitting the device-specific cellular telephone control signals to the cellular bus,

said interface designed for use with a cellular bus comprising a control-unit-to-transceiver-unit (CU-TRU) cable connecting a cellular transceiver and a cellular control unit, wherein the interface means is connected to the cellular transceiver and to the cellular control unit so as to replace the CU-TRU cable of the cellular bus.

7. An interface for connecting a cellular data modem for transmission of computer data to a cellular telephone device, said cellular telephone device including a cellular bus, comprising:

a. analog interface means connectable between the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for transmitting signals representing computer data between the data modem and the cellular bus;

b. processing means connectable to the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for receiving generic command signals from the cellular data modem, processing the generic command signals to generate device-specific cellular telephone control signals adapted to control operation of the specific cellular telephone device attached to the interface device, and transmitting the device-specific cellular telephone control signals to the cellular bus, wherein the generic command signals are received as serial digital data on digital data lines separate from lines used to carry the signals representing computer data.

8. An interface for connecting a cellular data modem for transmission of computer data to a cellular telephone device, said cellular telephone device including a cellular bus, comprising:

a. analog interface means connectable beween the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for transmitting signals representing computer data between the data modem and the cellular bus;

b. processing means connectable to the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for receiving generic command signals from the cellular data modem, processing the generic command signals to generate device-specific cellular telephone control signals adapted to control operation of the specific cellular telephone device attached to the interface device, and transmitting the device-specific cellular telephone control signals to the cellular bus;

c. acknowledgment means for acknowledging generic command signals received from the modem.

9. An interface for connecting a cellular data modem for transmission of computer data to a cellular telephone device, said cellular telephone device including a cellular bus, comprising:

a. analog interface means connectable between the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for transmitting signals representing computer data between the data modem and the cellular bus;

b. processing means connectable to the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for receiving generic command signals from the cellular data modem, processing the generic command signals to generate device-specific cellular telephone control signals adapted to control operation of the specific cellular telephone device attached to the interface device, and tansmitting the device-specific cellular telephone control signals to the cellular bus, wherein the generic command signals processed by the processing means includes requesting that the processing means generate device-specific cellular telephone control signals emulating a keypress occurrence on a keypad of the cellular telephone device.

10. An interface for connecting a cellular data modem for transmission of computer data to a cellular telephone device, said cellular telephone device including a cellular bus, comprising:

a. analog interface means connectable between the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for transmitting signals representing computer data between the data modem and the cellular bus;

b. processing means connectable to the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for receiving generic command signals from the cellular data modem, processing the generic command signals to generate device-specific cellular telephone control signals adapted to control operation of the specific cellular telephone device attached to the interface device, and tansmitting the device-specific cellular telephone control signals to the cellular bus, wherein the processing means includes means for accepting bus designation information and responds to the bus designation information to selectively operate with a plurality of types of cellular bus.

11. A system for accessing telephone networks through one of at least two types of telephone network access devices, both of types of telephone network access devices being designed to transmit analog telephonic data signals to the system and receive analog telephonic data signals from the system, with at least one of the types of the telephone network access devices being a digital type which is further capable of responding to separately trasmitted digital control signals from the system, comprising:

a. analog telephonic data transmission means for transmitting information signals to and receiving information signals from the telephone network access device;

b. digital control signal transmission means for transmitting digital control signals adapted to direct changes in operating modes of the connected telephone network access device;

c. input means for receiving signals indicative of the operating mode of the connected telephone network access device desired by the user;

d. control means connected to the digital control signal transmission means and to be input means for generating the digital control signals carried by the digital control signal transmission means;

wherein the analog telephonic data tranmission means and the digital control signal transmission means are connectable to and mechanically disconnectable from the telephone network access device by the user through a single electrical connector compatible with both types of telephone network access devices, such that when the electrical connector is connected to a telephone network access device, the analog telephonic data transmission means is properly connected for communications with both types of telephone network access device, while the digital control signal transmission means will only function with the digital type of telephone network access device.

12. A modem for connecting a computer device to facilitate data transmission over one of at least two types of public communications networks which can be selectively accessed through associated communications network access devices connectable to the modem, comprising:

control means for controlling the transmission of computer data between the computer device and the communications network access device, for selectively generating a generic command signal in digital form identifying a desired network access function of communications network access devices and for selectively transmitting said digital command signal to an interface external to the modem for controlling the connected communications network access device only when said connected communications network access device is of a type responding to digital control inputs; and

modulation means connectable to the computer device and connected to the control means for processing computer data signals transmitted between the computer device and the communications network when the network has been accessed;

wherein the digital command signal is a serial digital data transmission.

13. A modem for connecting a computer device to facilitate data transmission over one of at least two types of public communications networks which can be selectively accessed through associated communications network access devices connectable to the modem, comprising:

control means for controlling the transmission of computer data between the computer device and the communications network access device, for selectively generating a generic command signal in digital form identifying a desired network access function of communications network access devices and for selectively transmitting said digital command signal to an interface external to the modem for controlling the connected communications network access device only when said connected communications network access device is of a type responding to digital control inputs; and

modulation means connectable to the computer device and connected to the control means for processing computer data signals transmitted between the computer device and the communications network when the network has been accessed;

wherein the digital command signal is one of a set of defined command signals forming a command language interpretable by said external interface.

14. A modem for connecting a computer device to facilitate data transmission over one of at least two types of public communications networks which can be selectively accessed through associated communications network access devices connectable to the modem, comprising:

control means for controlling the transmission of computer data between the computer device and the communications network access device, for selectively generation a generic command signal in digital form identifying a desired network access function of communications network access devices and for selectively transmitting said digital command signal to an interface external to the modem for controlling the connected communications network access device only when said connected communications network access device is of a type responding to digital control inputs; wherein the control means operates to generate said digital control signals in a first operational mode for connecting to a first public communications network type and functions in a second operational mode to generate analog control signals during connection to a second public communications network type; and

modulation means connectable to the computer device and connected to the control means for processing computer data signals transmitted between the computer device and the communications network when the network has been accessed.

15. A method for interfacing a computing device to one of a plurality of connectable access devices of one of two or more types of telephone networks, including a first network responding to analog dialing signals and a second network having digital dailing signals, comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting an interface connector of the computing device to an interface connector of the access device to form first and second signal paths at the interface connector of the computing device;

(b) determining whether the network responds to analog or digital dailing signals;

(c) if the network responds to analog dialing signals, transmitting analog dialing signals and data signals on the first signal path;

(d) if the network responds to digital dialing signals, transmitting digital dialing signals on the second signal path wherein the digital dialing signals transmitted in step (d) are signals representing commands in a standardized command language.

16. A process for establishing a data transmission communications link using a data transmission device which is connected through a connector to either a landline telephone line interface or to an accessing device interface associated with an accessing device for an alternate public communications network operating in response to a generic command language, comprising the steps of:

a. dtermining, based on evaluation of signals at the connector, whether the device connected to the connector is the alternate network accessing device or the landline telephone line interface; and

b. if a landline telephone line interface is connected, (i) generating landline hook and dialing signals and (ii) transmitting these signals through the connector to initiate a call; and

c. if the alternate network accessing device is connected, (i) generating at least one digital command language signal representative of a desired communications link initiation function according to the predefined generic command language responded to by the accessing device interface, (ii) transmitting said digital command language signal through the connector to the accessing device interface and (iii) translating the generic command language signal to device-specific signals to cause the accessing device to perform the link initiation function defined by the generic command language signal.

17. A system for connecting a computer device for data transmission over a telephone network which can be accessed through a telephone network access device responsive to device-specific command signals to perform a network accessing function, comprising:

a. control means for controlling the transmission of computer data between the computer device and the telephone network and for generating a generic command signal representative of a desired telephone network access device network accessing function and transmitting the generic command signal over a command signal bus;

b. modem means connectable to the computer device and connected to the control means for processing the computer data signals transmitted between the computer device and the telephone network; and

c. interface means selectively connectable between the modem means and control means and the telephone network access device for generating and transmitting device-specific command signals compatible with at least the particular telephone network access device in use and adapted to control said network accessing function of the telephone network access device in response to generic command signals received from the control means through said command signal bus, and including a bus separate from said command signal bus for transmitting data between the modem means and the telephone network;

wherein the interface means provides signals acknowledging receipt of commands from the control means.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the control means retransmits commands that are not acknowledged by the interface means within a defined time period.

19. A system for connecting a computer device for data transmission over a telephone network which can be accessed through a telephone network access device responsive to device-specific command signals to perform a network accessing function, comprising:

a. control means for controlling the transmission of computer data between the computer device and the telephone network and for genrating a generic command signal representative of a desired telephone network access device network accessing function and transmitting the generic command signal over a command signal bus;

b. modem means connectable to the computer device and connected to the control means for processing the computer data signals transmitted between the computer device and the telephone network; and

c. interface means selectively connectable between the modem means and control means and the telephone network access device for generating and transmitting device-specific command signals compatible with at least the particular telephone network access device in use and adapted to control said network accessing function of the telephone network access device in response to generic command signals received from the control means through said command signal bus, and including a bus separate from said command signal bus for transmitting data between the modem means and the telephone network, wherein the interface means further includes connection sensing means for sensing connection of the interface means to the modem means or the control means.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the interface means, upon the sensing by the connection sensing means of the connection of the interface means to the control means, transmits a wakeup sequence signal to the control means to establish initial communications with the control means.

21. A system for connecting a computer device for data transmission over a telephone network which can be accessed through a telephone network access device responsive to device-specific command signal to perform a network accessing function, comprising:

a. control means for controlling the transmission of computer data between the computer device and the telephone network and for generating a generic command signal representative of a desired telephone network access device network accessing function and transmitting the generic command signal over a command signal bus;

b. modem means connectable to the computer device and connected to the control means for processing the computer data signals transmitted between the computer device and the telephone network; and

c. interface means selectively connectable between the modem means and control means and the telephone network access device for generating and transmitting device-specific command signals compatible with at least the particular telephone network access device in use and adapted to control said network accessing function of the telephone network access device in response to generic command signals received from the control means through said command signal bus, and including a bus separate from said command signal bus for transmitting data between the modem means and the telephone network;

wherein the control means further includes cable connection sensing means for sensing connection of the interface means to the modem means or the control means.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the control means, upon the sensing by the cable connecting sensing means of the connection of the interface means to the control means, transmits a wakeup sequence signal to the interface means to establish initial communications with the interface device.

23. An interface for connecting a cellular data modem for transmission of computer data to a cellular telephone device, said cellular telephone device including a cellular bus, comprising:

a. analog interface means connectable between the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for transmitting signals representing computer data between the data modem and the cellular bus;

b. processing means connectable to the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for receiving generic command signals from the cellular data modem, processing the generic command signals to generate device-specific cellular telephone control signals adapted to control operation of the specific cellular telephone device attached to the interface device, and transmitting the device-specific cellular telephone control signals to the cellular bus; and

c. connection signal generating means for producing a connection signal which can be received by the data modem when the interface device is connected to the data modem.

24. The interface device of claim 23 which changes its state from a first operating mode to a second operating mode upon receipt of a preassigned wakeup sequence signal from the data modem subsequent to connection of the interface device to the data modem.

25. An interface circuit for connecting a computing device to any one of a plurality of access devices for one of a plurality of telephone networks, including a first network responding to analog dialing signals and a second network having digital dialing signals, comprising:

a connecting device containing connections for first and second information busses for connecting a computing device to one of said access devices and which permits selective physical separation of, and disabling of signal transmission between, the computing device and the access device;

control means for selectively causing transmission of dialing signals and data signals over the first information bus between the computing device and the access device, at least when the telephone network is a network responding to analog dialing signals, and for selective causing transmission over said second information bus, when the connected telephone network is a network operating with digital dialing signals, of digital control signals in a standardized command language adapted to cause dialing by the connected access device on said digital dialing network;

wherein the connecting device is a standard modular telephone connector having a plurality of pins.

26. The interface circuit of claim 25 wherein the first information bus includes the pins of the connector normally used to transmit landline telephone signals in a single-line landline connection.

27. The interface circuit of claim 25 wherein the second information bus includes additional pins of the connector different from the pins used in the first information bus.

28. A system for connecting a computer device for data transmission over a telephone network which can be accessed through a telephone network access device responsive to device-specific command signals to perform a network accessing function, comprising:

a. control means for controlling the transmission of computer data between the computer device and the telephone network and for generating a generic command signal representative of a desired telephone network access device network accessing function and transmitting the generic command signal over a command signal bus;

b. modem means connectable to the computer device and connected to the control means for processing the computer data signals transmitted between the computer device and the telephone network; and

c. interface means selectively connectable between the modem means and control means and the telephone network access device for generating and transmitting device-specific command signals compatible with at least the particular telephone network access device in use and adapted to control said network accessing function of the telephone network access device in response to generic command signals received from the control means through said command signal bus, and including a bus separate from said command signal bus for transmitting data between the modem means and the telephone network;

wherein the system comprises at least two unitary component devices, a first device incorporating the modem means and the control means and a second device incorporating the interface means, and wherein the first device is provided with a standard landline telephone connector which may be selectively connected to a landline telephone jack for operation of the system with a landline telephone system or to a compatible connector of the second device for operation of the system with a cellular telephone system.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the standard landline telephone connector is an RJ-11 connector.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the modem means may be operated using a first data communications protocol when used with a cellular telephone network and may be operated using a second data communications protocol when used with a landline telephone network.

31. An interface for connecting a cellular data modem for transmission of computer data to a cellular telephone device, said cellular telephone device including a cellular bus, comprising: