M and A for executing firmware of an add-on FAX/Modem card on the host processor while maintaining compatibility

In a computer system comprising a host processor and a fax/modem, a method for transmitting data via the fax/modem while maintaining compatibility, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) writing raw transmit data from memory of the host processor to a conventional host processor-fax/modem interfacing register of the fax/modem;
• b) moving the raw transmit data from the conventional host processor-fax/modem interfacing register to a first host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO of the fax/modem;
• c) reading the raw transmit data from the first host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO of the fax/modem back to the memory of the host processor;
• d) processing and encoding the transfer back raw transmit data on the host processor, and writing the encoded transmit data from the memory of the host processor to a second host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO of the fax/modem;
• and
• e) moving the encoded transmit data from the second host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO of the fax/modem to a conventional fax/modem-line interface of the fax/modem, and then transmitting the encoded transmit data.

In a computer system comprising a host processor and a fax/modem, a method for receiving data via the fax/modem while maintaining compatibility, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving encoded receive data into the fax/modem through a conventional fax/modem-line interface;
• b) moving and transferring the encoded receive data from the fax/modem to the host processor through a first unconventional host processor-fax/modem interface;
• c) processing and decoding the encoded receive data on the host processor, and transferring the decoded receive data from the host processor to the fax/modem through the first unconventional host processor-fax/modem interface;
• and
• d) moving and transferring the decoded receive data from the fax/modem back to the host processor through a second conventional host process-fax/modem interface.

In a computer system comprising a host processor and a fax/modem, a method for receiving data via said fax/modem while maintaining compatibility, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving encoded receive data into a conventional fax/modem-line interface of the fax/modem;
• b) moving the received encoded receive data into a first host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO of the fax/modem;
• c) reading the encoded receive data from the first host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO into memory of the host processor;
• d) processing and decoding the encoded receive data on the host processor, and writing the decoded receive data from the memory of the host processor to a second host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO of the fax/modem;
• and
• e) moving the decoded receive data from the second host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO of the fax/modem to a conventional host processor-fax/modem interfacing register of the fax/modem, and reading the decoded receive data from the conventional host processor-fax/modem interfacing register of the fax/modem back into the memory of the host processor.

A fax/modem comprising:

• a) a host processor-fax/modem interfacing register for storing raw transmit data received from a host processor coupled to the fax/modem;
• b) a first host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO for storing the raw transmit data being redirected back to the host processor;
• c) a second host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO for storing a decoded version of the transmit data received from the host processor;
• d) a conventional fax/modem-line interface for storing the encoded transmit data;
• e) a local processor for executing programs;
• and
• f) a local interrupt handler to be executed by the local processor for causing the raw transmit data to be moved from the host processor-fax/modem interfacing register to the first host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO, the decoded transmit data to be moved from the second host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO to the conventional fax/modem-line interface, and the stored encoded transmit data to be transmitted.

A fax/modem comprising:

• a) a conventional fax/modem-line interface for receiving and storing received encoded receive data;
• b) a first host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO for storing the received encoded receive data being redirected to a host processor coupled to the fax/modem;
• c) a second host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO for storing a decoded version of the receive data received from the host processor;
• d) a conventional host processor-fax/modem interfacing register for storing the decoded receive data;
• e) a local processor for executing programs;
• and
• f) a local interrupt handler to be executed by the local processor for causing the received encoded receive data to be moved from the conventional fax/modem-line interface to the first host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO, and the decoded version of the received data to be moved from the second host processor-fax/modem redirection FIFO to the host processor-fax/modem interfacing register.