Modem Control Device Code Multiplexing

The present invention relates to a modem for transmitting digitally coded information between an information distribution network such as a telephone network, and either a central data processing unit or a remote data processing unit. More particularly, the invention relates to a modem whose operation is controllable by one of the very same data processing units for which it is designed to establish a communication link.

Modems are widely used to establish communication links between information distribution networks, e.g., telephone distribution networks, and data processing units. In general, modems modulate when transmitting and demodulate when receiving, signals usable by data processing units so that the information represented by such signals is in a form transmittable over a selected distribution network.

Present day modems provide quite reliable transmission of digitally coded information over telephone distribution networks. However, their control leaves much to be desired. Although modems provide data transmission at the quite high feed rates which can be accommodated by many data processing units, most provide few, relatively cumbersome, control options. For example, stand-alone modems, i.e., modems for use with data processing units which themselves do not have modems built in, require control separate and apart from the data processing units. Because of such, the control functions which have been made available for stand-alone modems have been quite limited. The most "sophisticated" stand-alone modem control known to applicant at the time of filing this application, merely provides automatic dialing. That is, such modem is capable of establishing a communications link over a distribution network without an operator having to actually dial the desired number on a telephone.

The control functions of even those modems which are provided as a part of a data terminal, i.e., are directly incorporated into the data terminal, leave much to be desired insofar as their control is concerned. The approach in the past has been to provide separate keys which are directly connected with the various integrated circuit chips providing modem operation. This also results in the control functions for such modems being generally quite limited.

The present invention provides a modem which is controlled directly by digitally coded modem control instructions received at one of the very same input/output ports used to provide the desired transmission of data. It accomplishes this via a code multiplexing scheme. That is, the modem interprets the context of the information presented at such port and separates digitally coded modem control instructions from digital information to be transmitted.

The modem of the invention includes, as is usual, a first port which is communicably connectable to an information distribution network, e.g., a telephone distribution network, to place thereon or receive therefrom, digitally coded and network control information; and a second port which is communicably connectable to a data processing unit to provide or receive digitally coded information from the network. It further includes means for directing digitally coded information to be transmitted by the modem received at one of the ports to the other of such ports. And in accordance with the invention, the modem of the invention also has means for controlling its operation which is responsive to digitally coded modem control instructions; and means for directing to such control means, digitally coded modem control instructions received at the second communication port. Thus, the very same data terminal which is utilized to provide the information desired to be transmitted, is also usable to control operation of the modem. An operator of such a data terminal therefore can instruct the modem to perform many relatively complex functions, without having to physically interact with the modem itself.

The modem of the invention can be instructed to automatically respond to any indication received by it over the distribution network that communication with its associated data processing unit is desired, and also to automatically dial the number of a destination on the distribution network with which its associated data processing unit wishes to communicate. These as well as other relatively more complex control functions are provided by the preferred embodiment of the invention. For example, the invention includes automatic redialing in the event when the modem attempts to establish communication it is found that the line at the destination is busy. It further provides two differing dialing modes, a fast dialing mode and a slow dialing mode. Moreover, the preferred embodiment provides an escape sequence by which data transmission by the modem can be intentionally terminated. These and other control functions are included in the preferred embodiment described below, which preferred embodiment corresponds at the time of filing the application to the best mode contemplated by the applicant of carrying out the invention.

With reference to the accompanying two sheets of drawing:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of the controller incorporated into the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an overall logic and information flow block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the modem of the invention. It includes a conventional port for communicably connecting the same to a telephone network. Port 11 is represented by a pair of lines 12 and 13 which respectively are to be connected directly to the "tip" and "ring" lines of a telephone line. Thus, port 11 is communicably connectable to the telephone network for placing thereon and receiving therefrom, digitally coded information and network control information. Such port further includes a ring detector 14 for detecting an effort to communicate with the data processing unit which is associated with the modem, as will be described in more detail below.

The modem of the invention also includes a second port 16 which is communicably connectable to a data processing unit from which it is desired to receive data, or to which data is to be transmitted. Although the invention is particularly applicable to stand-alone modems in which the port 16 would be exterior to a data terminal, it is also applicable to modems provided as part of a data terminal. And as used herein, the term "data processng unit" is meant to encompass units whose sole function is to exchange information with the distribution network, as well as units which themselves perform operations on digital data information. Such second port includes a level translator 17 for converting the voltage level binary notation of such a data processing unit, to one to which the modem is responsive.

Conventional digital modem circuitry is also provided for receiving digitally coded information received at one of the ports 11 and 16, translating such data and directing it to the other of such ports. More particularly, a digital modem integrated circuit represented at 18 is provided for accomplishing such purposes. It can be considered as means for converting digitally coded information in digital voltage level form to a form suitable for transmission over the distribution network and for converting digitally coded information received from the distribution network into digital voltage level form. The digital modem integrated circuit chip identified as MC6860 available from Motorola Semiconductor Products, Phoenix, Ariz., is particularly suited to the instant invention. It includes in a single chip the various pin connections shown in FIG. 1, and the functions associated therewith useful for purposes of the instant invention, as will be discussed below. It should be noted that as represented by lines 19 and 20, detection of a ring by detector 14 is directly conveyed to the RI (ring indication) pin 21 of digital modem 18.

Integrated circuit 18 includes a pair of terminals 22 and 23 to respectively receive from and place at the data processing unit, digitally coded information to be transmitted; and terminals 24 and 26 for receiving from and outputting on the telephone network, analog signals representing digital information to be so transmitted. The modem of the invention also includes elements for providing reliable and appropriate communication with the telephone network. A transmit filter 27 is connected to terminal 26 and filters out from any signal received therefrom, higher order harmonics as necessary to condition the signal for placement on the network. A duplexer 28 provides direction sensitive coupling by discriminating between signals to be placed on the network and those received therefrom. Signals to be placed on the network are fed through an overload protection level limiter 29 and an inductive coupler 31 to the telephone network, whereas signals received from the telephone network by the duplexer are fed to a band pass filter 32. Such filter provides frequency discrimination to separate data signals from dial tone and busy signals as discussed herein below, and directs data signals to the receive pin 24 of the digital modem 18 via an analog to digital converter 33. The analog component of a received data signal is detected by a threshold detector 34 which places a digital signal on "threshold detector" pin 36 of digital modem 18 indicative of whether or not a signal of sufficient strength is being received from the telephone network to assure reliable communication.

It should be noted that the frequency band passed by filter 32 is determined by the mode of frequency operation of the integrated circuit 18. That is, as is represented by line 37, the frequency band width passed by filter 32 is determined by the output on the MODE pin 38 of integrated circuit 18.

As a particularly salient feature of the modem of the invention, it includes control means which is responsive to digitally coded information received either from the communication distribution network or the data processing unit. Such control means is represented in FIG. 1 by the block 39 and is shown in detail in FIG. 2.

Controller 39 is designed to react to many different commands provided by the data processing terminal. In this connection, it includes a UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter) 41 which is, in effect, the interface between the remainder of the controller and modem control instructions provided at port 16. UART 41 functions as is conventional, to organize digital data received by it into the serial vectors of information (bytes) utilizable by the controller 39. It is connected to direct data received by it on line 42 from translator 17 (FIG. 1) to an electronic switch represented at 43. When the modem is first turned on, standard power-up logic (not shown) automatically causes switch 43 to direct digital information received from UART 41 to instruction decoding logic 44, as represented by the illustrated location of switch throw 46 and line 47. The algorithm for instruction decoding logic 44 will be understood from the following description of command operation. As a general matter, such decoding logic is designed to interpret each of the command instructions and command information it receives to effect the operation represented by such command or information.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is designed to recognize and effect twelve different commands as follows:

A=auto answer

D=dialing

F=fast dialing (tone dialing)

W=slow dialing (dial pulse dialing)

R=repeat dialing

E=escape sequence

T=self test

N=display stored number

P=prompt command

?=information

K=kill command

Z=reset

The letters set forth above correspond to the digital representation of such letters provided on a standard data terminal keyboard. An operator need only depress the same letter or symbol on such keyboard used during data transmission to direct to the port 16 and, hence, to the controller 39, the digital representation of the command associated with each. It should be noted that the controller is set to interpret depression of the carriage return key as a delimiter (end of instruction or command information).

To facilitate understanding, the details of controller 39 will be described in connection with its reaction to each of the above commands, considered in order. And for the sake of simplicity, a voltage level which activates or readies subsequent logic or circuitry is referred to below as a "true" signal, whereas a digital voltage level which deactivates subsequent logic or circuitry, is referred to as a "false" signal.

Controller 39 reacts to an "A" command by readying the modem to automatically respond to a call received on the distribution network, by communicating distribution network port 11 with the data terminal port 16 for the transmission of digitally coded information. That is, decoding logic 39 responds to the placement of an "A" instruction on line 47, by changing the state of the output to which line 48 is connected to "true", which line is connected to one terminal of an OR gate 49 which, in response thereto, places a "true" output on output line 51. As illustrated, line 51 is connected to the "true" input of a NAND gate 52. The "false" input of NAND gate 52 will always be at a level representing "false" except upon receipt of an "escape" signal as discussed below. Thus, receipt by NAND gate 52 of a "true" signal on its "true" input will result in its output represented by line 53 correspondingly going "true", with the result that the DTR (data terminal ready) pin of the digital modem 18 is activated. Thus, whenever a ring indication is received on RI pin 21 and the TD pin subsequently receives a "true" signal, data communication with the network via pins R.sub.x and T.sub.x is automatically enabled.

When the modem of the invention is in the command mode and it receives a digital signal representative of the "D" key of the terminal keyboard being depressed, followed by a number, it reacts thereto by furnishing to the distribution network, the appropriate signal for dialing the destination on such network at which it is desired to communicate. Moreover, it accomplishes this function in two different dialing modes, depending upon which of the terminal keys "F" or "W" was last pressed. More particularly, decoding logic 44 responds to the placement on line 47 of a "D" command by placing a "true" output on line 54. This "true" signal is directed via line 56 to OR gate 49 and, hence, through AND gate 52 as discussed above resulting in the activation of the DTR input pin of the integrated circuit 18. The true signal on line 54 is also fed to the "true" input of NAND gate 57. The "false" input of such NAND gate is maintained at a level representing "false", except when data is being transmitted through the modem between the ports 11 and 16. thus, the receipt by NAND gate 57 of the "true" signal on line 54 will result in its output represented at 58 also going "true", which output is connected to the SH (switch hook) input pin of the circuit 18. Such circuit will react to the simultaneous activation of its DTR and SH inputs by placing a "true" output on its AnPh (answer phone) output pin represented at 59. Such "true" signal on output pin 59 will be conveyed via line 60 to decoding logic 44, which logic reacts thereto be requesting receipt of a dial tone signal from the telephone network. That is, it places a "true" signal on line 61 which will be passed through dial pulse generator 62 and line 63 to one of the inputs of AND gate 64. The other input of AND gate 64 is connected directly via line 65 to the AnPh output pin 59. The result is that the output of such AND gate 64 will apply a "true" signal on line 66 which causes relay 67 to close and thereby indicate to the central distribution office on the telephone network that a dial tone is requested. It should be noted that the AnPh pin connection of circuit 18 will remain at a "true" state during the remainder of the dialing procedure and during data transmission as set forth below.

Upon being received by the modem, the dial tone is fed via level limiter 29 and duplexer 28 to the dial/busy detector 68 (FIG. 1). Detector 68 responds to the receipt of such a dial tone signal by placing a "true" signal on line 69 which communicates via a low pass filter 70 and line 71 with decoding logic 44. The decoding logic responds to simultaneous "true" signals on input lines 60 and 71 by directing digital signals representative of the telephone number (destination) desired to be placed on the distribution network, by causing such placement. As mentioned previously, the control means is capable of generating and delivering a telephone number to the distribution network in two different dialing modes, either a numerically coded destination signal or a tone coded destination signal. Thus, it includes both the dial pulse generator 62 and a frequency synthesizer 72. If the last dialing speed command was a "W" representing slow dialing, the decoding logic 44 will react to a simultaneous "true" signal on lines 60 and 71 by placing an activating "true" signal on its output line 61 directed to dial pulse generator 62. The dial pulse generator will respond thereto by generating the pulsing representation of the number to be dialed and passing the same via line 63 and AND gate 64 (FIG. 1) to pulse operate relay 67 and place at the port 11, the number to be applied to the telephone network. In this connection, dial pulse generator 62 includes a register for storing the data representation of the last telephone number fed into instruction decoding logic 44.

If the last dialing speed key depressed was the "F" key indicating fast dialing, the decoding logic 44 will react to simultaneous "true" signals on lines 60 and 71 by outputting a "true" signal on its output line 74 directed to frequency synthesizer 72. Synthesizer 72 is similar to dial pulse generator 62 in that it includes a register to store the data representation of the last telephone number received on line 47 by decoding logic 44. Frequency synthesizer 72 therefore will react to the placement of a "true" signal on line 74 by generating the tonal representation of the telephone number of the destination desired on the telephone network. Such tonal representation is fed as represented by line 76 to transmit filter 27 which after converting the digital tone to a sinusoidal signal by removing harmonics therefrom, directs the same to port 11 via duplexer 28, level limiter 29, and coupling 31.

If the data processing unit at the destination contacted via the above application of its number on the network responds by indicating that it is ready to communicate with a data terminal, it will in accordance with conventional practice apply to the telephone network for receipt by the port 11, a signal representative of such fact. Such signal will be passed through the coupler 31, level limiter 29 and, via the duplexer 28, through the band pass filter 32. Such signal will be directed through the threshold detector 34 to the TD pin of circuit 18 to indicate that the received signal is strong enough for reliable communication. That is, such modem will react to a "true" signal on pin TD by activating both its R.sub.x input pin and its CTS (clear to send) output pin. The application of a "true" signal at the CTS output pin will be sensed as represented by lines 77 and 78 by the "false" input of NAND gate 57. This will inactivate NAND gate 57 with the result that the SH pin of integrated circuit 18 correspondingly becomes deactivated.

The application of a "true" signal at the CTS output pin will also be sensed as represented by lines 77 and 79, by decoding logic 44. Such logic will respond thereto by placing a "true" signal on output line 81 directed to an input of AND gate 82. The "true" signal applied to the CTS line is also directed to the other input of AND gate 82 via line 83, with the result the AND gate will respond to its inputs by applying a "true" signal to its output line represented at 84. Such output line is connected to electronic switch 43 so that the application of a "true" signal on line 84 will result in switch throw 46 being thrown to pole 86 so that during data transmission, the data is directed through pole 86 to data mode "escape" structure to be discussed herein below. This movement of throw 46 will also deactivate the decoding logic 44 so that subsequent digitally coded information received by the controller 39 will be identified as data to be transmitted by the modem, rather than modem control instructions.

Upon the simultaneous activation of the DTR, TD, SH, and CTS pins of the integrated circuit 18, it will transmit between its digital data input and output pins, the data to be transmitted between the two ports of the modem.

If when a telephone number is applied by the modem to the telephone network, a "busy" signal is returned, such a busy signal will be fed via coupler 31, level limiter 29 and duplexer 28 to detector 68 which upon detecting the same will place on line 69 a "true" signal. It should be noted that the band widths of filter 32 which are passed, are selected to discriminate against such a busy signal and prevent the same from causing threshold detector 34 from activating TD pin of circuit 18.

Low pass filter 70 will react to receipt of such a busy signal by applying a "true" digital signal to line 71 to be fed to decoding logic 44. The sequence at which decoding logic 44 receives "true" signals on line 71 enables it to distinguish between such a signal representing the receipt of a dial tone and such a signal representative of a busy line. That is, a dial tone "true" signal is received prior to application of the telephone number to the telephone network, whereas a "true" signal representative of a busy line will be received by the decoding logic after the telephone number is applied to the telephone network.

Decoding logic 44 reacts to placement of a busy "true" signal on line 71 in two differing ways, depending upon its dialing instructions. If it had been instructed merely to dial the number as described above, it reacts to such a receipt of a busy signal by placing on "character output" line 87, the digital representations required to feed through UART 41 to the data terminal via line 88 (FIG. 1) and level translator 17, digital representations of characters to be displayed to the data terminal operator, indicative of the message that communication with the location is incapable of being established at the time. For example, the message "NO CONNECTION" can be directed to be displayed by the data terminal to such operator.

As mentioned previously, one of the principal features of the instant invention, is its ability upon receipt of a busy signal to redial a number after a preselected period of time. The modem of the invention is directed to effect such redialing if necessary, merely by depressing the "R" command before the number to be dialed, rather than the "D" command. When the "R" command is so depressed and its digital representation is received by decoding logic 44, the decoding logic responds thereto by placing a "true" signal on line 89 in addition to the various outputs and responses described above in connection with receipt by it of a "D" instruction. This placement of a "true" signal on line 89 results in a one-bit register 91 being activated to cause the dialing mode and generation of a dialing signal to be repeated upon receipt of a busy "true" signal. In this connection, it should be remembered that both the dial pulse generator 62 and the frequency synthesizer 72 include registers storing the last dialed number.

If the decoding logic 44 receives a busy "true" signal on line 71 and redial status register 91 is activated as aforesaid, the decoding logic will react thereto by causing a sequence of dialings to occur, spaced a preselected period of time (for example, 100 milliseconds apart) from one another, rather than place digital representation of characters indicating "busy" on line 87. Such redialing will continue for a selected time, e.g., two minutes, and if communication with the destination on the distribution network being telephoned is not completed during such time, the decoding logic 44 then will place on line 87 the character digital representations indicating that communication has not been established.

As another salient feature of the modem of the invention, it includes means enabling escape from the data transmission mode and reversion to the modem command control mode. While the modem of the invention is in data transmission mode, the controller activates a listening process whereby data that is to be transmitted by the modem is serially compared to an escape sequence. If the comparison is true, data transmission will be halted and the modem will return to command mode. More particularly, as mentioned previously, during data transmission throw 46 of switch 43 is connected to terminal 86. Thus, during data transmission digital representations of the data being transmitted are fed via a line 94 to a shift register 96. Shift register 96 acts to place such data representations in a serial form for comparison by a comparator 97 with the contents of an escape register 93. Upon a "true" comparison, the output line 98 of the comparator will have a "true" signal applied thereto. As illustrated, such line is connected to the "false" input of NAND gate 52 so that the application of such a "true" signal on line 98 will result in the application of a corresponding "false" signal on output line 53. The DTR pin of the integrated circuit 18 is thus deactivated, terminating data communication via such integrated circuit.

The CTS output pin of the circuit 18 will be inactivated by the inactivation of DTR pin, with the result that AND gate 82 will direct throw 46 of switch 43 to again communicate information it receives to decoding logic 44, rather than to shift register 96. Moreover, deactivation of such CTS pin will be fed by line 79 to decoding logic 44 which will react thereto by placing on character output line 87 a "NO CONNECTION" message to be displayed at the data terminal. This will inform the operator of the discontinuance of data transmission.

The "E" command is used to reprogram the escape sequence stored in the escape register. That is, receipt by the decoding logic while the modem is still in the command mode, of the digital representation of an "E" command followed by an alphanumeric sequence will result in a digital representation of such sequence being applied to output line 92 and, hence, being stored in escape register 93.

The modem of the invention also reacts to a "self-test" instruction by directing integrated circuit 18 to assure that it is capable of proper data transmission. More particularly, upon receipt by the decoding logic on line 47 of a "T" command, such decoding logic reacts thereto by placing a "true" signal on output line 99. Such "true" signal is, among other things, directed through a time delay buffer 101 and line 20 (FIG. 1) to RI (ring indicator) pin 21 of circuit 18. Thus, the modem is provided with an indication that an effort is being made to communicate with the same. The decoding logic 44 also reacts to receipt of a "T" instruction by otherwise performing the functions associated with answering a call as discussed above. Moreover, the "true" signal on line 99 is directed by line 103 to the ST (self-test) pin of circuit 18 to initiate the self-testing operation. The "true" signal on line 99 is also directed via line 103 and line 104 to an electronic switch 106 to disconnect throw 107 with the data output terminal to the data input terminal of the circuit to direct data appropriately to the integrated circuit 18 for the self-test. That is, the normal data-in line 42 becomes a data output line. In this connection, the decoding logic 44 is designed to ignore looped-back digital information received by it because of such switching of the electronic switch 106.

A message indicative of proper functioning of the modem is then fed by controller 39 into modem integrated circuit 18 where, assuming proper functioning of such modem, it is placed on the T.sub.x pin of such modem. It is then directed through the duplexer 28 which has sufficient leakage to allow a representation of the same to be directed to band pass filter 32. This will result in receipt of the message by R.sub.x pin through A/D converter 33, which message will then be retranslated by integrated circuit 18 and applied to its data output pin 23 for subsequent delivery through the level translator 17 to the data terminal. If all of the circuitry through which such message has passed in the modem is properly functioning, the data terminal will display such message as originally transmitted.

The "true" signal applied by the decoding logic 44 to its output line 99 is applied long enough for a reliable self-test by circuit 18. It is then terminated with the result that the decoding logic again places the "prompt" message on line 87 for conveying to the data terminal for an indication that it is awaiting further instructions.

Besides the major commands discussed above, the modem of the invention also is designed to respond to simpler commands typically desired by a data terminal operator. For one, decoding logic 44 responds to the application of a "N" command to line 47 by directing through output line 104 and message ROM 106, that the last telephone number which had been received by the controller via the command instruction be displayed on the data terminal display. Moreover, the decoding logic 44 responds to a "P" command followed by additional information by storing the additional information as a "prompt" symbol to be displayed on the data terminal. It also responds to a "question mark" command received on the line 47 by placing a "true" signal on line 107 to cause message ROM 106 to deliver to UART 41, the digital representations necessary to print out on the data terminal, a table setting forth the twelve different command instructions set forth herein.

Decoding logic 44 responds to a "K" command on line 47 by terminating a particular command instruction received by it and returning to its state immediately prior to such command. A "Z" command is decoded to cause return of the modem command to its state existing at the time the modem was initially powered-up for operation.

The logic portion of the modem of the invention can be implemented as either hard-wired logic circuitry or as a logic-replacement, single-chip microcomputer. This latter approach is preferred as the best mode of the invention, in view of it being most cost-effective.

In one embodiment of the invention, the controller was implemented through the microcomputer designated by the model number 3870 available from various sources, including Mostek Corporation, Carrollton, Tex.; Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation, Mountain View, Calif.; and Motorola Semiconductor Products, Phoenix, Ariz. The firmware stored in the microcomputer implementation of the controller as described above is defined by the following tabulation stored in ROM memory of such microcomputer between hexadecimal addresses 000 and 7FF: ##SPC1##

Although the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the same. For example, code multiplexing as described above can find use in modems incorporated directly into data processing terminals. Thus, it is intended that the coverage afforded applicant be limited only by the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims and their equivalent language.