Telecommunications interface apparatus and method

A method for transmitting data between a host computer and a telecommunication network through an interface module without requiring special host-based computer programs to communicate with the interface module, comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving data in the interface module from the host computer via a first port of the host computer, the data comprising a plurality of characters;
• b. scanning in the interface module the plurality of characters in sequence, over a selected number of characters of the received data, for the presence of a first predetermined command code specified by, and embedded in, the received data by a user, the command code comprising a string of characters, and:
• (i) transmitting at least part of the received data to the telecommunication network by means of the interface module if the first predetermined command code is detected within the selected number of characters of the received data;
• and
• (ii) terminating transmission of the received data to the telecommunication network if the data received from the host computer terminates or if a second predetermined command code is received from the host computer;
• and otherwise;
• (iii) transmitting the received data by means of the interface module to a coupled peripheral device of the host computer if the first predetermined command code is not detected within the selected number of characters of the received data.

An interface apparatus for transmitting data between a host computer and a telecommunication network through an interface module without requiring special host-based computer programs to communicate with the interface module, including:

• a. host receiving means, coupled to a first port of the host computer, for receiving data from the host computer via the first port, the data comprising a plurality of characters;
• b. scanning means, coupled to the host receiving means, for scanning a selected number of characters of the received data for the presence of a first predetermined command code specified by, and embedded in the received data by, a user, the command code comprising a string of characters;
• and
• c. network transmission means, coupled to the host receiving means and to the telecommunication network, for transmitting the received data to the telecommunication network if the first predetermined command code is detected within the selected number of characters of the received data, and otherwise not transmitting the received data to the telecommunication network, wherein the network transmission means terminates transmission of the received data if the received data terminates or if a second predetermined command code is received from the host computer.

An interface apparatus for transmitting data between a host computer and a telecommunication network without requiring special host-based computer programs to communicate with the interface apparatus, including:

• a. host receiving means, coupled to a first port of the host computer, for receiving data from the host computer via the first port, the data comprising a plurality of characters;
• b. scanning means, coupled to the host receiving means, for scanning the plurality of characters in sequence, for a selected number of characters of the received data for the presence of a first predetermined command code specified by, and embedded in the received data by, a user, the command code comprising a string of characters;
• c. network transmission means, coupled to the host receiving means, the scanning means, and the telecommunication network, for;
• (i) transmitting the received data to the telecommunication network if the first predetermined command code is detected within the selected number of characters of the received data;
• and
• (ii) terminating transmission of the received data if the received data terminates or if a second predetermined command code is received from the host computer;
• and
• d. output means, coupled to the host receiving means and the scanning means, for transmitting the received data to a peripheral device coupled to the output means if the first predetermined command code is not detected within the selected number of characters of the received data.

An interface apparatus for transmitting data between a host computer and a telecommunication network through an interface module without requiring special host-based computer programs to communicate with the interface module, including:

• a. a host receiver, coupled to a first port of the host computer, for receiving data from the host computer via the first port, the data comprising a plurality of characters;
• b. scanning apparatus, coupled to the host receiver, for scanning a selected number of characters of the received data for the presence of a first predetermined command code specified by, and embedded in the received data by, a user, the command code comprising a string of characters;
• and
• c. a network transmitter, coupled to the host receiver and to the telecommunication network, for transmitting the received data to the telecommunication network if the first predetermined command code is detected within the selected number of characters of the received data, and otherwise not transmitting the received data to the telecommunication network, wherein the network transmitter terminates transmission of the received data if the received data terminates or if a second predetermined command code is received from the host computer.

A method for transmitting data between a host computer and a telecommunication through an interface module without requiring special host-based computer programs to communicate with the interface module, comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving print data in the interface module from the host computer via a printer port of the host computer, the print data comprising a plurality of characters;
• b. scanning in the interface module a selected number of characters of the received print data for the presence of a first predetermined command code specified by, and embedded in, the received print data by a user, the command code comprising a string of characters;
• and
• transmitting at least part of the received print data to the telecommunication network by means of the interface module if the first predetermined command code is detected within the selected number of characters of the received print data.

An interface apparatus for transmitting data between a host computer and a telecommunication network through an interface module without requiring special host-based computer programs to communicate with the interface module, including:

• a. a host receiver, coupled to a printer port of the host computer, for receiving print data from the host computer via the printer port, the print data comprising a plurality of characters;
• b. scanning apparatus, coupled to the host receiver, for scanning a selected number of characters of the received print data for the presence of a first predetermined command code specified by, and embedded in the received print data by, a user, the command code comprising a string of characters;
• and
• c. a network transmitter, coupled to the host receiver and to the telecommunication network, for transmitting the received print data to the telecommunication network if the first predetermined command code is detected within the selected number of characters of the received print data, and otherwise not transmitting the received print data to the telecommunication network.