System and method for interfacing computers to diverse telephone networks

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 sensing means for sensing connection of the interface device to the modem.

A data modem which may be selectively used with either a landline telephone device or a cellular telephone device, comprising:

• a. modulation-demodulation means for encoding and decoding computer data to be transmitted between the computer device and a connected landline or cellular telephone device;
• b. analog data transmission lines connected to the modulation-demodulation means for carrying computer data between the modulation-demodulation means and the connected telephone device;
• c. cellular command signal generating means for generating generic command signals for a cellular telephone system according to a specified protocol;
• d. command transmission lines connected to the cellular command signal generating means for carrying generic command signals between the cellular command signal generating means and a command interpreting device connected to the command transmission lines,
• wherein the modem is connected either to the command interpreting device or to a landline telephone device through a common terminal connector means connected to the command transmission lines and the analog data transmission lines, said connector means selectively permitting physical and signal transmission separation of the modem from said command interpreting device or said landline telephone device.

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 telephone network access device-specific command signals to perform a network accessing function, comprising:

• modem means for receiving data and control signals from the computer device and controlling in response a connection to a telephone network for transmission of data between the computer device and the telephone network, said modem means comprising control means for controlling the transmission of computer data between the computer device and the telephone network and for selectively generating a generic command signal in digital from representative of a desired network accessing function of telephone network access devices, and further comprising 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 telephone network, and further comprising connector means for selectively connecting and disconnecting external devices to said modem means for the transmission of said generic command signals and said computer data signals, said connector means permitting selective physical and signal transmission separation of the modulation means from said external devices;
• and
• interface means connected with the telephone network access device and selectively connectable to the connector means of the modem means for receiving the generic command signals of the modem means and translating said signals into device-specific digital command signals compatible with at least the particular telephone network access device in use and adapted to initiate said network accessing function of the telephone network access device, and for receiving and transmitting the computer data signals between the modem means and the telephone network access device.

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:

• modulation means connectable to the computer device for processing computer data signals transmitted between the computer device and the communications network when a connection of the modem to a device on the communications network has been established;
• unitary connector means adapted to permit selective connection of the modem to a communications network access device, for providing connections for at least two information busses between the modem and an interface of the communications network access device, with a first of said information busses connected to and used by the modulation means for transmission of the computer data signals, with said unitary connector means also permitting disconnection of the modem from the interface enabling physical and signal connection separation of the modem from the interface;
• control means connected to the modulation means and connectable to the computer device for generating and transmitting through the connector means control signals specifying desired call establishment and termination functions of the connected communications network access device and having plural modes of operation, including a first operational mode in which said control signals are transmitted over the same first information bus as the computer data signals and a second operational mode in which the control signals are transmitted on the second of the two information busses of said connector means.

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 telephone network access device is a cellular telephone.