Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for concurrent interaction with a modem having an open connection

US6161201A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
9References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 26, 1998
Grant dateDec 12, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 26, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M11/062
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a connection monitor to concurrently interact with a concurrent diagnostic-capable modem during an open connection controlled by a communication application without terminating the open connection between a host system and the modem. The connection monitor and a communication application operate concurrently to enable a user to interrogate a modem for status information while a connection with the modem remains open and functional with other communication applications. A serial device driver presents two types of entry to the operating system, one for normal communications and one for a collateral or side-door entrance from a connection monitor. The serial device driver multiplexes a packaged diagnostic command into the open channel with the data process by the serial driver and dispatched to a local modem. The local modem performs a demultiplexing function by routing traditional communication data to a traditional COM process and diagnostic information is routed to a diagnostic process. Diagnostic status information is likewise packaged and multiplexed into a data stream with traditional COM data information for dispatch to the serial device driver and d…

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