Automatic simultaneous voice-and-data call setup for remote-site servicing

An apparatus comprising:

• a remotely serviceable first communications system, including a remote-access service port for providing remote-service data communications access to the remotely serviceable first communications system;
• a first telephone connected to the first communications system;
• a second communications switching system;
• a second telephone connected to the second communications switching system;
• a remote servicing apparatus connected to the second communications switching system, for automatically servicing the first communications system via data communications with the remote-access service port;
• a communications link interconnecting the first communications system with the second communications switching system;
• a first simultaneous voice and data modem at the first communications system, and a second simultaneous voice and data modem at the second communications switching system, each for establishing a simultaneous voice and data communications single connection over the link with each other;
• an arrangement in the first communications system responsive to an origination of a voice call from the first telephone to the second telephone, for causing the first simultaneous-voice and data modem to establish a simultaneous voice and data connection over the link to the second communications switching system, and further for connecting a voice portion of the connection to the first telephone and connecting a data portion of the connection to the remote-access service port;
• and
• an arrangement in the second communications system responsive to the establishment of the simultaneous voice and data communications single connection over the link, for causing the second simultaneous voice and data modem to terminate the simultaneous voice and data communications single connection, and further for connecting the voice portion of the connection to the second telephone and connecting the data portion of the connection to the remote servicing apparatus;
• whereby origination of the voice call automatically results in the remote servicing apparatus being connected to the first communications switching system via data communications on same said single connection as the voice communications.

An apparatus connectable by a telecommunications link to a first telephone and to a remote servicing arrangement, the apparatus comprising:

• a second telephone for effecting voice communications with the first telephone over the link;
• remotely serviceable equipment remotely serviceable by the remote servicing arrangement via data communications over the link;
• a simultaneous voice and data communications mechanism for effecting a simultaneous voice and data communications single connection over the link to the first telephone and the remote servicing arrangement;
• and
• an arrangement responsive to origination of voice communications between the first and the second telephones, for automatically causing the simultaneous voice and data communications mechanism to effect the simultaneous voice and data communications single connection, connecting a voice portion of the simultaneous voice and data communications single connection to the second telephone thereby to effect voice communications between the first and the second telephones, and connecting a data portion of the simultaneous voice and data communications single connection to the remotely serviceable equipment thereby to effect remote servicing of the remotely serviceable equipment by the remote servicing arrangement;
• whereby origination of the voice communications automatically results in the remote servicing arrangement being connected to the remotely serviceable equipment via data communications on same said single connection as the voice communications.

An apparatus connectable by a telecommunications link to a first telephone and to a remotely serviceable arrangement, the apparatus comprising:

• a second telephone for effecting voice communications with the first telephone over the link;
• remote servicing equipment responsive to a data communications connection to the remotely serviceable arrangement, for servicing the remotely serviceable equipment via data communications;
• a simultaneous voice and data communications mechanism means for affecting a simultaneous voice and data communications single connection over the link to the first telephone and the remotely serviceable arrangement;
• and
• an arrangement responsive to origination of voice communications between the first and the second telephones, for automatically causing the simultaneous voice and data communications mechanism to effect the simultaneous voice and data communications single connection, connecting a voice portion of the simultaneous voice and data communications single connection to the second telephone thereby to effect voice communications between the first and the second telephones, and connecting a data portion of the simultaneous voice and data communications single connection to the remote servicing equipment thereby to effect remote servicing of the remotely serviceable arrangement by the remote servicing equipment;
• whereby origination of the voice communications automatically results in the remote servicing equipment being connected to the remotely serviceable arrangement via data communications on same said single connection as the voice communication.

A method of effecting remote servicing of remotely serviceable equipment in a system comprising the remotely serviceable equipment and an associated first telephone, remote servicing equipment and an associated second telephone, a telecommunications link extending from the remotely serviceable equipment and the first telephone to the remote servicing equipment and the second telephone, and a simultaneous voice and data communications mechanism for effecting a simultaneous voice and data communications single connection over the link, comprising the steps of:

• in response to origination of voice communications between the first and the second telephones, automatically causing the simultaneous voice and data communications mechanism arrangement to effect the simultaneous voice and data communications single connection over the link;
• connecting a voice portion of the simultaneous voice and data communications single connection to the first and to the second telephones to effect voice communications between the first and the second telephones;
• connecting a data portion of the simultaneous voice and data communications single connection to the remotely serviceable equipment and the remotely servicing equipment;
• and
• in response to the connecting of the data portion, the remote servicing equipment remotely servicing the remotely serviceable equipment via data communications;
• whereby origination of the voice communications automatically results in the remote servicing equipment being connected to the remotely serviceable equipment and servicing the remotely serviceable equipment via the data communications on same said single connection as the voice communications.