Patent · US Expired

Intelligent local area network modem node

US5355365A · kind A · utility

66Cited by
6References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 1993
Grant dateOct 11, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M11/06
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus which provides a shared modem resource to PCs connected through a local area network and to off-network PCs. In particular, the present invention is an intelligent LAN modem node which combines the attributes of a local area network node, an intelligent operating personal computer and one or more modems constructed in a dedicated fashion. The LAN modem node operates as a standalone node on a LAN to allow the shared resources of modem communication for the other PCs on the network and off-network PCs without tying up any of the PCs on the network for modem communications. The LAN modem node allows the PCs on the LAN to communicate with off-LAN devices such as mainframe computers, off-site printers, minicomputers, other local area networks and the like. The LAN modem node also gives off-LAN personal computers access to network resources.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.