Cellular phone interface for a simultaneous voice/data modem

A cellular telephone comprising:

• a cellular transceiver;
• a cellular handset;
• a cellular interface port;
• and
• control circuitry able to couple the cellular handset to the cellular transceiver for communicating over a cellular network, said control circuitry able to couple the cellular handset to the cellular interface port for communicating with a modem attached thereto, said control circuitry responsive to a command signal received via the cellular interface port for either a) coupling the cellular handset to the cellular transceiver for communicating over a cellular network;
• or b) coupling the cellular handset to the cellular interface port for communicating with a modem attached thereto.

A cellular telephone comprising:

• a cellular transceiver;
• a cellular handset;
• a cellular interface port;
• and
• control circuitry able to cause the cellular transceiver to process audio signaling from the cellular handset for communicating over a cellular network, said control circuitry able to couple the cellular handset to the cellular interface port for communicating with a modem attached thereto such that the cellular transceiver ignores any audio signaling from the cellular handset, said control circuitry responsive to a command signal received via the cellular interface port for either a) causing the cellular transceiver to process audio signaling from the cellular handset for communicating over a cellular network or b) coupling the cellular handset to the cellular interface port for communicating with a modem attached thereto such that the cellular transceiver ignores any audio signaling from the cellular handset.

A method for use in a modem, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a mode of operation from a number of modes of operation, wherein the number of modes of operation include at least a voice-only mode, and a voice-and-data mode;
• and
• providing control signaling to a cellular telephone, which includes a cellular handset and a cellular transceiver;
• wherein the control signaling causes the cellular telephone to operate differently depending on the selected mode of operation such that in the voice-only mode signaling from the cellular handset is communicated to the cellular transceiver for communication over a cellular network, but in the voice-and-data mode said signaling is communicated from the cellular handset to the modem for subsequent communication over the cellular network, via the cellular transceiver.

A method for use in a modem, the method comprising the steps of:

• coupling to a cellular telephone that includes a cellular transceiver and a cellular handset;
• selecting one of a number of modes of operation, where the modes of operation include at least a voice-only mode, and a voice-and-data mode;
• and
• causing the cellular telephone to operate differently depending on the selected one of the number of modes such that in the voice-only mode control circuitry of the cellular telephone couples the cellular transceiver to the cellular handset but in the voice-and-data mode the control circuitry couples the cellular handset to the modem and not to the cellular transceiver.

A method for use in a modem, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting one of a number of modes of operation, where the modes of operation include at least a cellular-voice-only mode, a land-line-voice-only mode, and a cellular voice-and-data mode;
• and
• providing control signaling to a cellular telephone, which includes a cellular handset and a cellular transceiver;
• wherein the control signaling causes the cellular telephone to operate differently depending on the selected one of the number of modes such that in the cellular-voice-only mode control circuitry of the cellular telephone couples the cellular transceiver to the cellular handset, but in both the land-line-voice-only mode and the cellular-voice-and-data mode the control circuitry couples the cellular handset to the modem and not to the cellular transceiver.

A method for use in a modem, the method comprising the steps of:

• coupling to a cellular telephone that includes a cellular transceiver and a cellular handset;
• selecting one of a number of modes of operation, where the modes of operation include at least a cellular-voice-only mode, a land-line-voice-only-mode, and a cellular voice-and-data mode;
• and
• causing the cellular telephone to operate differently depending on the selected one of the number of modes such that in the cellular-voice-only mode control circuitry of the cellular telephone couples the cellular transceiver to the cellular handset but in both the cellular-voice-and-data mode and the land-line-voice-only-mode the control circuitry couples the cellular handset to the modem and not to the cellular transceiver.