FI90172C - Device for connecting a computer to a separate analog telephone - Google Patents

Description

1 90172 Arrangement for connecting a computer to a separate analog telephone - Anordning för anslutning av en dator account en separat analog telefon 5

The present invention relates to an arrangement for connecting a computer to a telephone, the computer being provided with a modem card implemented in one or more parts, which includes a modem and connections to the audio and control buses of the telephone.

Such an arrangement is well known in connection with a normal telephone.

In connection with a cellular telephone, an arrangement according to Figures 1 and 2, for example, is known. In it, as shown in the figure, the chain includes a telephone 1, which may be a cellular telephone, an adapter 2, a two-wire connection to the modem 3, and finally a computer 4.

20

Figure 2 shows the blocks of adapter 2 and modem 3 in more detail. The adapter includes a unit UART 21, a microprocessor 22, an analog amplifier 23 and a telephone adapter 24. Correspondingly, the modem 3 includes a microprocessor 32, an analog 25 IC 33, a telephone adapter 34, and an external serial bus, e.g. a V.24 type bus adapter. 35.

The disadvantage of such a known arrangement is the impractical form of the system, since it has three or four separate units with cables in between. In addition to the existence of unnecessary mechanics and the costs involved, the existence of a useless unit combination DTMF transmitter-DTMF receiver is also a disadvantage.

35 In a known system, a modem converts a telephone number into DTMF tones based on a call set-up command from a computer. The sounds are output from the modem, from where they are routed to a data adapter, which is again converted by the DTMF receiver into a digital sequence. This series of numbers is attached to a control message sent to the telephone 2 C,.: P 1 7 2, which causes the cellular telephone to call the number.

Of course, it has also been possible to place all 5 units described here in the same housing, but in that case the phone and computer cannot be purchased or used separately, but the whole combination must always be carried with you.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are avoided and in which the system becomes both simpler and cheaper. To achieve this, the invention is characterized in that the telephone is a separate analog cellular telephone and that the modem card further includes, either as an integrated part or otherwise connected thereto, a telephone audio bus adapter, a port suitable for the telephone digital control bus, and software for converting modem digital commands to telephone and vice versa.

20 The modem card may also be adapted to be connected to a fixed telephone network, in which case the card also includes a telephone adapter. In this case, it can also be connected to other fixed telephone network devices, such as a fax machine.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 show a known arrangement already described, Figure 3 shows an arrangement according to the invention in block diagram form, Figure 4 shows one implementation of a modem part in more detail and Figure 5 shows an alternative implementation of a modem part.

Thus, according to the invention, a modem card 35 is placed in the computer itself, which takes care of the control between the computer and the telephone as well as the audio traffic. Compared to the previous system, there is therefore a need for a telephone, which may be a cellular telephone, and a computer equipped with a new type of modem card according to the invention.

Il 3 C 'ΓΜ 7 2

When the telephone is a cellular telephone, the modem card may, for example, be as shown in Figure 4. In other words, the modem card includes a port 51 (UART) suitable for the digital control bus of the telephone, a microprocessor 52 and an analog IC circuit 5, i.e. the actual modem 53, which acts as a kind of D / A converter between the microprocessor 52 and the telephone. In addition, the modem card includes an adapter for 55 PC buses and an audio bus adapter (not shown). In the arrangement according to the invention, the modem call set-up command is converted directly and digitally into a digital control message of the telephone by means of a modem card. As shown in Figure 4, the modem card has a direct connection to the cellular telephone's audio and control bus. The port 51 may include an adapter 15 located in the connector to the telephone itself. The audio bus adapter can also be located in the connector outside the card itself.

The cellular telephone control instructions are located in the program memory of the microprocessor 52 of the modem card and not, as in the known arrangements 20, in a separate data adapter.

The modem card can also be implemented in such a way that it can be connected to fixed telephone network devices, for example a fax machine. Such an extended embodiment is shown in Figure 5. It includes, like the modem card of Figure 4, parts 51, 52, 53 and 55, as well as a telephone adapter 54 for the above-mentioned connection.

The system according to the invention is thus smaller than known and has fewer cable connections. DTMF circuits can be omitted from the system, which naturally reduces manufacturing costs. Phone and computer can be purchased and used separately. The best application due to its versatility is probably as shown in Figure 5, where the modem-35 card is connected to a PC, a cellular telephone and a fixed network terminal.

Claims (5)

An apparatus for connecting a computer (4) to a telephone (1), the computer being provided with a modem card (5) realized in one or more parts, which includes a modem (53) and connections to the telephone ( 1) audio and control buses (earphone, mic, control), characterized in that the telephone (1) is a separate analog cellular telephone and that the tili modem card (5) furthermore includes an integral part II 5. n 1 7 2 executed or tili the card is otherwise connected to the audio bus adaptation for the telephone, a suitable port (51) to the telephone's digital control bus, and a program which converts the modem's digital commands to telephone commands and vice versa. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gate (51) of the digital control bus suitable for the telephone is located in a part such as an adaptation in the connection between the computer (4) and the telephone (1). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the modem card (5) is adapted to be connected to a stationary telephone network, the card (5) also comprising a telephone adapter (54). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the modem card (5) is adapted to be connected also to other devices of a stationary telephone network, such as to a facsimile. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer (4) is a portable PC.