Multiple line modem and method for providing voice on demand

A system for increasing the data transfer rate of a data connection, the system comprising:

• a plurality of individual serial data lines;
• a first means for operating each of said plurality of individual serial data lines in a data transfer mode during a period in which voice service is not requested;
• a second means for operating at least one of said plurality of individual serial data lines in a voice service mode when voice service is requested, while continuing to operate a remainder of said plurality of individual serial data lines in said data transfer mode and redirecting data that would otherwise be transferred over the at least one serial data line operating in voice service mode to at least one of the remaining serial data lines;
• and
• a third means for returning said at least one of said plurality of individual serial data lines to said data service mode from said voice service mode when said voice service is complete and redistributing the transfer of data across each of the plurality of serial data lines.

A computer readable storage medium containing program code for execution on a computer system disposed for data communication over a plurality of serial data lines at a customer premises, the program code configured for managing the transmission of voice and data over the plurality of serial data lines comprising:

• a first code segment for detecting the presence of a voice service mode on at least one of the serial data lines;
• a second code segment for controlling the communication of data across the plurality of serial data lines when no voice service mode is detected by the first code segment, the first code segment being configured to distribute the communication of data across each of the plurality of serial data lines;
• and
• a second code segment for controlling the communication of data across the plurality of serial data lines when a voice service mode is detected by the first code segment, the second code segment being configured to inhibit the communication of data across at least one of the serial data lines, and instead redirect the communication of data that would otherwise be communicated across the at least one inhibited serial data line to at least one of the remaining serial data lines.

A method for controlling data communication over a plurality of serial data lines including at least one voice-capable line at a customer premises, comprising the steps of:

• (a) detecting the existence of a voice service mode;
• (b) transmitting data across each of the plurality of serial data lines in a fully distributed fashion, when no voice service mode is detected;
• and
• (c) inhibiting the transmission of data across the at least one voice-capable line and redirecting data otherwise disposed for transmission across the at least one voice-capable line for communication across the remaining serial data lines, when a voice service mode is detected.