Method and apparatus for making a voice and/or data call over a single analog phone line using a multi-modal DCE

A method for operating a data circuit terminating equipment (DCE-1) to make a call over a single analog-loop telephone line, the method comprising:

• a) placing the DCE-1 in a first operating mode where the DCE-1 is idle;
• b) placing the DCE-1 in a second operating mode from the first operating mode to start the call, responsive to a real time local telephone off hook event detected while the DCE-1 is operating in the first operating mode, and exchanging analog voice only for the call with another data terminal equipment (DCE-2) at the other end of the analog telephone line, with no provision for exchanging communication data, while the DCE-1 is operating in the second operating mode, said detected local telephone off hook event being an event occurring in real time at a telephone coupled to the DCE-1 at the same end of said analog-loop line;
• c) returning the DCE-1 to the first operating mode from the second operating mode to end the call, responsive to a real time local telephone on hook event detected while the DCE-1 is operating in the second operating mode, said detected local telephone line on hook event being an event occurring in real time on said telephone coupled to the DCE-1 at the same end of said analog-loop telephone line;
• d) placing the DCE-1 in a third operating mode from the second operating mode, responsive to a real time local dial command received while the DCE-1 is operating in the second operating mode, and interleavingly exchanging digitized voice as well as communication data with the DCE-2 while the DCE-1 is operating in the third operating mode supporting simultaneous voice and data communication (SVD), said local dial command being provided in real time by a data terminal equipment (DTE-1) coupled to the DCE-1 at the same end of said analog-loop telephone line;
• e) returning the DCE-1 to the second operating mode from the third operating mode, responsive to a real time local hangup command received while the DCE-1 is operating in the in the third operating mode, and operating the DCE-1 is defined in step (b), said local hangup command being provided in real time by the DTE-1;
• f) placing the DCE-1 in a fourth operating mode from the third operating mode, responsive to a real time local telephone on hook event detected while the DCE-1 is operating in the third operating mode, and exchanging only digital communication data for the call with the DCE-2, without making allowance for exchanging voice, while the DCE-1 is operating in the fourth operating mode, said detected local telephone on hook event being an event occurring in real time at said telephone coupled to the DCE-1 at the same end of said analog-loop telephone line;
• g) returning the DCE-1 to the third operating mode from the fourth operating mode, responsive to a real time local telephone off hook event detected while the DCE-1 is operating in the fourth operating mode, and operating the DCE-1 as defined in step (d), said detected local telephone off hook event being an event occurring in real time on said telephone coupled to the DCE-1 at the same end of said analog-loop telephone line;
• and
• h) placing the DCE-1 in the first operating mode from the fourth operating mode to end the call, responsive to a real time local hangup command received while the DCE-1 is operating in the fourth operating mode, said local hangup command being provided in real time by the DTE-1.

A method for operating a data circuit terminating equipment (DCE-1) to make a call over a single analog-loop telephone line, the method comprising:

• a) placing the DCE-1 in a first operating mode where the DCE-1 is idle;
• b) placing the DCE-1 in a second operating mode from the first operating mode to start the call, responsive to a real time local telephone off hook event detected while the DCE-1 is operating in the first operating mode, and exchanging analog voice only for the call with another data circuit terminating equipment (DCE-2) at the other end of the analog telephone line, with no provision for exchanging communication data, while the DCE-1 is operating in the second operating mode;
• c) returning the DCE-1 to the first operating mode from the second operating mode to end the call, responsive to a real time local telephone on hook event detected while the DCE-1 is operating in the second operating mode, said detected local telephone on hook event being an event occurring in real time on a telephone coupled to the DCE-1 at the same end of said analog-loop telephone line;
• d) placing the DCE-1 in a third operating mode from the second operating mode, responsive to a remote predetermined start up signal pattern detected in real time while the DCE-1 is operating in the second operating mode, and interleavingly exchanging digitized voice as well as communication data with the DCE-2 for the call while the DCE-1 is operating in the third operating mode supporting simultaneous voice and data (SVD) communication, said remote predetermined start up signal pattern being provided in real time by the DCE-2;
• e) returning the DCE-1 to the second operating mode from the third operating mode, responsive to a real time remote data disconnect command received while the DCE-1 is operating in the third operating mode, and operating the DCE-1 as defined in step (b), said remote data disconnect command being provided in real time through the DCE-2 by a remote data terminal equipment (DTE-2), said DTE-2 being coupled to the DCE-2 at the other end of said analog-loop telephone line;
• f) placing the DCE-1 in a fourth operating mode from the third operating mode, responsive to a real time remote voice disconnect command received while the DCE-1 is operating in the third operating mode, and exchanging communication data with the DCE-2 for the call, without making allowance for exchanging voice, while the DCE-1 is operating in the fourth operating mode, said remote voice disconnect command being provided in real time through the DCE-2 by the DTE-2;
• g) returning the DCE-1 to the third operating mode from the fourth operating mode, responsive to a real time remote voice restart command received while the DCE-1 is operating in the fourth operating mode, and operating the DCE-1 as defined in step (d), said remote voice restart command being provided in real time through the DCE-2 by the DTE-2;
• and
• h) placing the DCE-1 in the first operating mode from the fourth operating mode to end the call, responsive to a real time remote data disconnect command received while the DCE-1 is operating in the fourth operating mode, said remote data disconnect command being provided in real time through the DCE-2 by the DTE-2.

A computer system comprising:

• (a) a processor;
• (b) a memory subsystem;
• (c) a bus subsystem coupled to the processor and the memory subsystem;
• and
• (d) an internal modem (M1) coupled to the bus subsystem having a micro-controller to operate the M1 in a first idle mode, as well as selectively operate the M1 by switching on demand in different ones of at least three modes for a multi-modal call, responsive to a number of real time local events or commands and a number of real time remote commands received over an analog-loop telephone line, wherein the at least three modes include a second mode where the M1 exchanges only analog voice for the call with another modem (M2) at the other end of the analog-loop telephone line with no provision for exchanging communication data, a third mode where the M1 interleavingly exchanges digitized voice as well as communication data with the M2 supporting simultaneous voice and data (SVD) communication, and a fourth mode where the M1 exchanges communication data for the call with the M2 without making allowance for exchanging voice,
• said real time local events or commands being events occurring or commands provided in real time by equipment coupled to the M1 at the same end of said analog-loop telephone line, and real time remote commands being commands provided in real time by equipment coupled to the M2 at the other end of said analog-loop telephone line.

A data and voice communication system comprising;

• a) a computer having an I/O interface;
• b) a standalone telephone;
• and
• c) an external modem (M1) equipped to couple the M1 itself to the I/O interface, the standalone telephone, and an analog-loop telephone line, the M1 having a micro-controller to operate the M1 in a first idle mode, as well as selectively operate the M1 by switching on demand in different ones of at least three modes for a call, responsive to a real time number of local events of the telephone, a number of real time local commands of the computer, and a number of real time remote commands received over an analog-loop telephone line, wherein the at least three modes include a second mode where the M1 exchanges only analog voice for the call with another modem M2 at the other end of the analog-loop telephone line without provision for exchanging communication data, a third mode where the modem interleavingly exchanges digitized voice as well as communication data with the M2 supporting simultaneous voice and data (SVD) communication, and a fourth mode where the M1 exchanges communication data for the call with the M2 without making allowance for exchanging voice.

A data and voice communication system comprising:

• a) a standalone telephone;
• and
• b) a computer having an internal modem (M1) coupled to the standalone telephone and a single analog-loop telephone line, the M1 having
• b.1) a micro-controller responsive to real time local events of said standalone telephone as well as real time local and remote commands to operate the M1 in a first idle mode, as well as selectively operate the M1 by switching on demand in different ones of at least three modes for a call, wherein the at least three modes include a second mode where the M1 exchanges only analog voice for the call with another modem (M2) at the other end of the analog-loop telephone line without provision for exchanging communication data, a third mode where the M1 interleavingly exchanges digitized voice as well as communication data with the M2 supporting simultaneous voice and data (SVD) communication, and a fourth mode where the M1 exchanges communication data for the call with the M2 without making allowance for exchanging voice, said real time local commands being provided in real time by equipment coupled to the M1 at the same end of said analog-loop telephone line, and said real time remote commands being commands provided in real time through the M2 by a computer coupled to the M2 or having the M2 at the other end of said analog-loop telephone line, and
• b.2) switching circuitry responsive to the micro-controller for dynamically configuring destination and source paths for voice and data being received and to be transmitted over the single analog-loop telephone line.