Methods and apparatus for communicating commands and data using logical channels

A communication method for use by a modem, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving data information via a first logical channel, said first logical channel being defined by a data type in said data information;
• receiving command information via a second logical channel, said second logical channel being defined by a command type in said command information, wherein said first and second logical channels are a part of a single physical channel;
• transferring said data information received via said first logical channel to a receiver;
• reading said command information received via said second logical channel;
• and
• executing said command information for controlling telephone line operations of said modem, wherein said command information for controlling telephone line operations of said modem includes a command to call a telephone number or a command to answer an incoming call.

A modem device capable of communicating information with a host via a host interface, said information including command information and data information, said device comprising:

• a controller in communication with said host interface for receiving said information from said host;
• a physical channel interface including a data pump;
• and
• a physical channel in communication with said controller and said physical channel interface, said physical channel including a logical command channel and a logical data channel;
• wherein said controller provides said command information to said physical channel interface via said logical command channel and provides said data information to said physical channel interface via said logical data channel, and wherein said command information includes a command type defining said logical command channel, and said data information includes a data type defining said logical data channel, and wherein said command information controls telephone line operations of said modem and includes a command to call a telephone number or a command to answer an incoming call.

A modem device capable of communicating information with a host via a host interface, said information including command information and data information, said device comprising:

• a controller in communication with said host interface for receiving said information from said host:
• a plurality of physical channel interfaces, each of said plurality of physical channel interfaces including a data pump;
• and
• a plurality of physical channels, wherein said controller is in communication with each of said physical channel interfaces via at least one of said plurality of physical channels, and wherein at least one of said plurality of physical channels includes a logical command channel and a logical data channel;
• wherein said controller provides said command information to said at least one of said plurality of physical channel interfaces via said logical command channel and provides said data information to said at least one of said plurality of physical channel interfaces via said logical data channel, and wherein said command information includes a command type defining said logical command channel, and said data information includes a data type defining said logical data channel, and wherein said command information controls telephone line operations of said modem and includes a command to call a telephone number or a command to answer an incoming call.

A method of communicating information between a modem device and a host via a host interface, said device including a controller in communication with said host interface and a physical channel, wherein said physical channel is in communication with a physical channel interface having a data pump, and said information including command information and data information, said method comprising:

• defining a logical command channel in said physical channel based on a command type;
• defining a logical data channel in said physical channel based on a data type;
• providing said command information, including said command type, to said physical channel interface via said logical command channel, wherein said command information controls operations of said data pump and includes a command to call a telephone number or a command to answer an incoming call;
• and
• providing said data information, including said data type, to said physical channel interface via said logical data channel.

A modem device capable of communicating information with a host via a host interface, said information including command information, message information and data information, said device comprising:

• a controller in communication with said host interface for receiving said information from said host, said controller including a transfer register having:
• a receive first-in/first-out (FIFO) register for storing said data information:
• a transmit FIFO register for storing said data information;
• a mailbox for storing said command information and said message information, wherein each of said command information and said message information includes a type and a channel number, and wherein said command information controls operations of said data pump and includes a command to call a telephone number or a command to answer an incoming call;
• a physical channel interface including a data pump;
• and
• a physical channel in communication with said controller and said physical channel interface, said physical channel including a logical command channel and a logical data channel;
• wherein said controller provides said command information and said message information from said mailbox to said physical channel interface via said logical command channel based on said type and said channel number and communicates said data information in said receive FIFO and said transmit FIFO with said physical channel interface via said logical data channel.