Method and apparatus for initiating loading of software in a personal computer in response to an incoming signal
OwnerJon Kleininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for supplying power to a computer, and initiating loading of software in the computer in response to a first signal. The invention allows a fax to be received, or a modem session initiated by a computer while the computer is unattended and powered down. The invention initiates the loading of the appropriate software in the computer for conducting the incoming session. The invention also directs incoming calls so that only one phone line is required for voice, fax, and modem sessions.
Claims20
An apparatus for initiating loading of software in a single computer, the apparatus comprising:
- a phone line interface for receiving a first signal over a phone line;
- tone detection circuitry coupled to the phone line interface for determining whether the first signal comprises one of a plurality of different specific tone sequences;
- control logic coupled to the tone detection circuitry for generating commands when the first signal comprises one of the specific tone sequences;
- a power switch coupled to and controlled by the control logic for supplying power to the computer when the first signal comprises one of the specific tone sequences;
- and
- a computer interface coupled to the control logic for transmitting the commands to the computer from the control logic, the commands for initiating loading of software corresponding to a particular one of the specific tone sequences, each of the specific tone sequences having different software corresponding thereto;
- wherein the phone line interface is operable to release the phone line after the computer interface initiates loading of the software to prepare for a subsequent incoming call, the subsequent incoming call being related to detection of the first signal.
A method for initiating loading of software in a single computer, the method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a phone line;
- detecting a first signal on the phone line;
- determining whether the first signal comprises one of a plurality of different specific tone sequences;
- supplying power to the computer when the first signal comprises one of the specific tone sequences;
- directing the computer to initiate loading of software corresponding to particular one of the specific tone sequences when the first signal comprises one of the specific tone sequences, each of the specific tone sequences having different software corresponding thereto;
- and
- releasing the phone line to prepare for a subsequent incoming call, the subsequent incoming call being related to detection of the first signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.