Controllerless modem with general purpose computer executing modem controller code and virtualized dart communicating data to/from modem controller code

A computer system for use with a modem with a digital signal processor but lacking a microcontroller for executing modem controller code, comprising:

• a processor for executing instructions, said processor executing the modem controller code;
• a virtualized version of a physical hardware interface, said virtualized version providing a virtualized interface to the executing modem controller code;
• and
• a device driver written to communicate with a physical hardware interface, wherein said device driver is modified by replacing instructions directed to the physical hardware interface with calls to said virtualized interface.

In a general purpose computer system, a method of providing modem communication without a hardware modem controller, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a digital signal processor for communicating over telecommunications link;
• executing on the general purpose computer system modem controller code for communication with the digital signal processor;
• providing a hardware interface for communication from the modem controller code to the digital signal processor;
• and
• providing a virtualized version of a hardware interface between operating system device driver software on the general purpose computer system and the modem controller code executing on the general purpose computer system, whereby modem commands and data are transmittedbetween the operating system device driver software and the modem controller code.

A general purpose computer system for use with a modem that lacks a microcontroller for executing a modem controller code, where the general purpose computer system executes the modem controller code, the system comprising:

• a processor for executing instructions;
• a virtualized UART interface for execution by said processor, said virtualized UART interface communicating data to and from the modem controller code;
• a disk drive coupled to said processor for storing the modem controller code;
• main memory for storing the modem controller code;
• an input/output bus coupled to said processor, said input/output bus adapted to communicate with a controllerless hardware modem with a digital signal processor;
• and
• wherein said processor executes both general computer system code and the modem controller code and communicates data and commands between said executed modem controller code and the digital signal processor.