Apparatus and method for a data communications device to selectively operate as an analog modem, as a digital modem, and as a terminal adapter

A data communications device selectively configurable as an analog modem, as a digital modem, or as a terminal adapter, the data communications device coupleable to a terminal and to a communications network of a plurality of communications networks, the plurality of communications networks including a public switched telephone network and a digital communications network, for transferring data between the terminal and the communication network, the data communications device comprising:

• a controller;
• a data pump coupled to the controller;
• a first codec coupled to the data pump;
• a second codec;
• an analog interface circuit coupleable to the public switched telephone network;
• a digital interface circuit coupleable to the digital communications network;
• a first switch coupled to the first codec, to the second codec and to the analog interface circuit, the first switch responsive to a control signal;
• and
• a processor coupled to the controller, to the second codec, to the analog interface circuit, to the digital interface circuit, and to the first switch, the processor responsive to a first user command signal of a plurality of user command signals to configure the data communications device as the terminal adapter and thereby transfer data from the controller through the digital interface circuit, the processor further responsive to a second user command signal of the plurality of user command signals to produce the control signal to the first switch to selectively couple the first codec to the analog interface circuit or to couple the first codec to the second codec, whereby the data communications device is configured as the analog modem when the first codec is coupled to the analog interface circuit, and whereby the data communications device is configured as the digital modem when the first codec is coupled to the second codec.

A method of selectively operating a data communications device in at least one operating mode of a plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes including a terminal adapter operating mode, a digital modem operating mode and an analog modem operating mode, the data communications device coupleable to a terminal and to a communications network of a plurality of communications networks for transferring data between the terminal and the communications network, the plurality of communications networks including a digital communications network and an analog communications network, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving data from the terminal to form received data;
• (b) selecting said at least one operating mode to form a selected operating mode;
• (c) converting the received data to terminal adapter format data when the selected operating mode is the terminal adapter operating mode and transferring the terminal adapter format data to or from the digital communications network;
• (d) modulating the received data to form an analog modem signal when the selected operating mode is the analog modem operating mode or when the selected operating mode is the digital modem operating mode;
• (e) routing the analog modem signal to the analog communications network when the selected operating mode is the analog modem operating mode;
• and
• (f) digitally encoding the analog modem signal and routing the digitally encoded analog modem signal to the digital communications network when the selected operating mode is the digital modem operating mode has been selected.

A method of selectively operating a data communications device in a digital operating mode or in an analog operating mode, the digital operating mode or the analog operating mode having been selected to form the selected operating mode, the data communications device coupleable to a terminal and to a communications network of a plurality of communications networks for transferring data between the terminal and the communications network, the plurality of communications networks including a digital communications network and an analog communications network, the method comprising:

• (a) transferring data between the terminal and the data communication device to form received data;
• (b) modulating the received data to form an analog modem signal;
• (c) routing the analog modem signal to the analog communications network when the selected operating mode is the analog operating mode;
• and
• (d) digitally encoding the analog modem signal and routing the digitally encoded analog modem signal to the digital communications network when the selected operating mode is the digital operating mode.

A data communications device selectively operable in an analog modem mode and in a digital modem mode, the data communication device coupleable to a terminal, and coupleable to a public switched telephone network or to a digital communications network, the data communication device comprising:

• an analog modem coupleable to the terminal;
• a codec;
• an analog interface circuit coupleable to the public switched telephone network;
• a digital interface circuit coupled to the codec and coupleable to the digital communication network;
• and
• a switch coupled to the analog modem, to the codec and to the analog interface circuit, the switch responsive to a control signal to selectively couple the analog modem to the analog interface circuit or to couple the analog modem to the codec, whereby the data communication device is operable in the analog modem mode when the analog modem is coupled to the analog interface circuit, and whereby the data communication device is operable in the digital modem mode when the analog modem is coupled to the codec.

A data communications device selectively operable as an analog modem, as a digital modem, and as a terminal adapter, the data communications device coupleable to a public switched telephone network and to a digital communications network, the data communications device comprising:

• a data pump, the data pump having a PCM codec interpolator;
• a linear codec coupled to the data pump;
• an analog interface circuit coupled to the linear codec and coupleable to the public switched telephone network;
• a digital interface circuit coupleable to the digital communication network;
• and
• a controller coupled to the data pump and to the digital interface circuit, the controller selectively providing a first control signal of a plurality of control signals to the data pump to selectively operate the data pump in an analog mode and engage the linear codec and the analog interface circuit, the controller further selectively providing a second control signal of the plurality of control signals to the data pump to selectively operate the data pump in a digital mode and to engage the digital interface circuit, whereby the data communications device is operable as the analog modem when the data pump is in the analog mode, whereby the data communications device is operable as the digital modem when the data pump is in the digital mode, and whereby the data communication device is operable as the terminal adapter when the data pump is not in either the analog mode or in the digital mode.