Method and apparatus for automatically converting from an analog voice mode to a simultaneous voice and data mode for a multi-modal call over a telephone line

An improved micro-controller of a data circuit terminating equipment (DCE), wherein the improvements comprise:

• (a) first control logic for selecting a voice compression/decompression algorithm from a plurality of voice compression/decompression algorithms nominations contained in a first at least one information frame received from another DCE coupled to the DCE through an analog-loop telephone line, the first at least one information frame being transmitted from the other DCE to the DCE in accordance to a frame based transmission protocol that provides for a plurality of logical channels, the selected voice compression/decompression algorithm being used in association with a voice transmission protocol for subsequent transmission of voice between the two DCEs through one of the logical channels;
• (b) second control logic for transmitting a second at least one information frame to the other DCE to inform the other DCE of the selected voice compression/decompression algorithm;
• and
• (c) third control logic for initializing the DCE to transmit voice to the other DCE in accordance to the voice transmission protocol using the selected voice compression/decompression algorithm and a voice blocking factor, responsive to receiving the voice blocking factor through a third at least one information frame from the other DCE.

An improved data circuit terminating equipment (DCE), wherein the improvements comprise:

• (a) a micro-controller having operating logic for operating the DCE in at least an analog voice mode or a simultaneous voice and data (SVD) mode during a call, and control logic for switching the DCE's operating mode from the analog voice mode to the SVD mode during the call including establishment of voice and data transmission protocols to be used by the operating logic while operating in the SVD mode,
• the control logic including
• (a.1) first logic for converting a voice connection over an analog-loop telephone line to another DCE to a modem connection,
• (a.2) second logic for establishing a transmission protocol for the modem connection with the other DCE, the transmission protocol being frame based and providing for at least a first and a second logical channels,
• (a.3) third logic for establishing a data transmission protocol for data transmission through the first logical channel, and
• (a.4) fourth logic for establishing a voice transmission protocol for voice transmission through the second logical channel, wherein when executed as a result of the first logic being an initiator of the conversion of the voice connection to the modem connection,
• the fourth logic transmits to the other DCE a first at least one information frame to nominate a first plurality of voice compression/decompression algorithms to be used with the voice transmission protocol for transmitting voice between the two DCEs through the second logical channel;
• the fourth logic further determines a first voice blocking factor responsive to a second at least one information frame containing a response from the other DCE selecting a first voice compression/decompression algorithm, said determination taking into account at least a first and a second timing factor, the first timing factor being a desired nominal fixed time interval for transmitting voice, and the second timing factor being amount of time required to compress/decompress a smallest block of sampled voice using the first voice compression/decompression algorithm;
• and
• the fourth logic further transmits a third at least one information frame to inform the other DCE of the first voice blocking factor.

A method for establishing a voice transmission protocol by a first data circuit terminating equipment (DCE) with a second DCE coupled to the first DCE, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) transmitting to the second DCE by the first DCE a first at least one information frame to nominate a plurality of voice compression/decompression algorithms for use with a voice transmission protocol for transmitting voice between the DCEs, the first at least one information frame being transmitted in accordance with a frame based transmission protocol that provides for a plurality of logical channels, one of which is to be used for said voice transmissions;
• b) determining by the first DCE a voice blocking factor for use with the voice transmission protocol, responsive to receiving a second at least one information frame containing a voice compression/decompression algorithm selection response from the second DCE, said determination taking into account at least a first and a second timing factor, the first timing factor being a desired nominal fixed time interval for transmitting voice, and the second timing factor being amount of time required to compress/decompress a smallest block of sampled voice using the selected voice compression/decompression algorithm;
• and
• c) transmitting a third at least one information frame by the first DCE to the second DCE to inform the second DCE of the determined voice blocking factor.

A method for establishing a voice transmission protocol by a first data circuit terminating equipment (DCE) with a second DCE, the method comprising the step of:

• (a) receiving by the first DCE from the second DCE a first at least one information frame containing a plurality of voice compression/decompression algorithm nominations for use with a voice transmission protocol for transmitting voice between the DCEs, said first at least one information frame being transmitted in accordance to a frame based transmission protocol that provides for a plurality of logical channels, one of which is to be used for said voice transmissions;
• (b) selecting one of the nominated compression/decompression algorithms by the first DCE;
• (c) transmitting a second at least one information frame by the first DCE to the second DCE to inform the second DCE of the selection;
• and
• (d) receiving by the first DCE from the second DCE a third at least one information frame containing a voice blocking factor for use with the voice transmission protocol, said voice block factor being determined and provided in response to said voice compression/decompression algorithm selection.

A method for converting a multi-modal voice, data, or voice and data call over a single analog-loop telephone line between two data circuit terminating equipments (DCEs) from an analog voice mode to a simultaneous voice and data (SVD) mode during a call, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) the two DCEs jointly converting a voice connection over the telephone line between each other over which the call is being conducted into a modem connection;
• (b) the two DCEs jointly establishing with each other a frame based transmission protocol for the modem connection, the frame based transmission protocol providing for at least a first and a second logical channel;
• (c) the two DCEs jointly establishing a data transmission protocol for transmitting data over the first logical channel;
• and
• (d) the two DCEs jointly establishing a voice transmission protocol for transmitting voice over the second logical channel, including
• (d.1) a first of the two DCEs transmitting to a second of the DCEs a first at least one information frame of the frame based transmission protocol to nominate a plurality of voice compression/decompression algorithms for use with the voice transmission protocol for transmitting voice between the two DCEs through the second logical channel;
• (d.2) the first DCE determining a voice blocking factor for the voice transmission protocol based on a response contained in a second at least one information frame received from the second DCE identifying a selected voice compression/decompression algorithm, said determination factoring into account a first and a second timing factor, the first timing factor being a desired nominal fixed time interval for transmitting voice, and the second timing factor being amount of time required to compress/decompress a smallest block of sampled voice using the selected voice compression/decompression algorithm;
• and
• (d.3) the first DCE transmitting to the second DCE a third at least one information frame to inform the second DCE of the determined voice block for the voice transmission protocol.