Modem management techniques
AssigneeU.S. Robotics, Inc.
InventorsChristopher J. Rozman, Scot W. Salzman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for managing transmission of digital data between a digital telephone line and a computer network. First and second modems, a telephone control circuit and a network control circuit respond to management instruction signals to execute predetermined management objectives and generate management response signals representing one or more conditions of the first and second modems, telephone control circuit and network control circuit. In response to a single packet of management signals from the network, a management circuit generates the management instruction signals and independently addresses them to one or more of the first and second modems, telephone control circuit and network control circuit.
Claims27
In a system comprising a telephone line carrying a first telephone signal resulting from modulation by a first modem of a first digital computer signal representing digital first data from a digital first computer, said telephone line also carrying a second telephone signal resulting from modulation by a second modem of a second digital computer signal representing digital second data from a digital second computer, said system also comprising a network for transmitting a digital first network signal representing digital third data from a digital third computer, for transmitting a digital second network signal representing digital fourth data from a digital fourth computer, and for transmitting digital network management signals adapted for use by a management station executing a predetermined management application using a predetermined first management protocol, improved apparatus for managing transmission of said digital data between said telephone line and said network comprising in combination:
- first modem means responsive to said first network signal and said first telephone signal for enabling communication between said first computer and said third computer, responsive to management instruction signals for executing predetermined management objectives and for generating management response signals representing one or more conditions of said first modem means;
- second modem means responsive to said second network signal and said second telephone signal for enabling communication between said second and fourth computers, responsive to management instruction signals for executing predetermined management objectives and for generating management response signals representing one or more conditions of said second modem means;
- telephone control means for transmitting said first, second, third and fourth digital telephone signals between said telephone line and said first and second modem means, responsive to management instruction signals for executing predetermined management objectives and for generating management response signals representing one or more conditions of said telephone control means;
- network control means for transmitting said first, second, third and fourth network signals between said first and second modem means and said network, responsive to management instruction signals for executing predetermined management objectives and for generating management response signals representing one or more conditions of said network control means;
- and
- management means responsive to said network management signals for generating said management instruction signals, for independently addressing said management instruction signals to one or more of said first modem means, second modem means, telephone control means and network control means, for converting said management response signals to said network management signals, and for transmitting said network management signals to said management station, whereby said management station can manage said first and second modem means, said telephone control means and said network control means in real time while said first and second modem means enable bilateral communication among said first, second, third and fourth computers.
A method suitable for use with a system comprising a digital telephone line carrying a digital first telephone signal resulting from modulation by a first modem of a first digital computer signal representing digital first data from a digital first computer, said telephone line also carrying a digital second telephone signal resulting from modulation by a second modem of a second digital computer signal representing digital second data from a digital second computer, said system further comprising network means for transmitting a digital first network signal representing digital third data from a digital third computer, for transmitting a digital second network signal representing digital fourth data from a digital fourth computer, and for transmitting digital network management signals adapted for use by a management station executing a predetermined management application using a predetermined first management protocol, said system further comprising first modem means for enabling data communication between said first and third computers and second modem means for enabling data communication between said second and fourth computers, said method managing transmission of said digital data between said digital telephone line and said network means and comprising in combination the steps of:
- modulating signals representing said third data and demodulating signals representing said first data in said first modem means so that said first data and said third data are communicated between said first and third computers;
- executing predetermined management objectives directed to said first modem means in response to management instruction signals;
- generating first management response signals representing one or more conditions of said first modem means;
- generating first digital network management signals in response to said first management response signals;
- transmitting said first digital network management signals over said network means;
- modulating signals representing said fourth data and demodulating signals representing said second data in said second modem means so that said second data and said fourth data are communicated between said second and fourth computers;
- executing predetermined management objectives directed to said second modem means in response to management instruction signals;
- generating second management response signals representing one or more conditions of said second modem means;
- generating second digital network management signals in response to said second management response signals;
- transmitting said second digital network management signals over said network means;
- generating said management instruction signals according to a second management protocol different from said first management protocol in response to said network management signals;
- transmitting said management instruction signals to said first and second modem means while said steps of modulating and demodulating are being carried out;
- processing said management response signals while said steps of modulating and demodulating are being carried out, whereby said first and second modem means are managed while data communication between said first and third computers and between said second and fourth computers is enabled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.