WO2000016534A1 - Multi-task plug-in architecture for software modem - Google Patents
Multi-task plug-in architecture for software modem Download PDFInfo
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- WO2000016534A1 WO2000016534A1 PCT/US1999/021660 US9921660W WO0016534A1 WO 2000016534 A1 WO2000016534 A1 WO 2000016534A1 US 9921660 W US9921660 W US 9921660W WO 0016534 A1 WO0016534 A1 WO 0016534A1
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- Prior art keywords
- software
- modem
- modules
- communication
- controller
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M11/00—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
- H04M11/06—Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
- G06F9/06—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
- G06F9/44—Arrangements for executing specific programs
- G06F9/4401—Bootstrapping
- G06F9/4411—Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
- H04L41/08—Configuration management of networks or network elements
- H04L41/0803—Configuration setting
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L43/00—Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L9/00—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
- H04L9/40—Network security protocols
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
- H04L41/02—Standardisation; Integration
- H04L41/0213—Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L43/00—Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
- H04L43/02—Capturing of monitoring data
- H04L43/022—Capturing of monitoring data by sampling
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L43/00—Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
- H04L43/12—Network monitoring probes
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
- H04L69/30—Definitions, standards or architectural aspects of layered protocol stacks
- H04L69/32—Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
Definitions
- the present invention relates to software modems, and more particularly to a software
- modem having a data pump with a plurality of self contained executable modules for updating
- Modems also accept modulated analog waves via the communication
- Modems have been classified according to various parameters such as potential modem
- classifications include V.34, for 33.6 kbps modems and V.90, for the 56 kbps modem standard.
- a typical hardware modem operating on a general purpose computer includes a
- DSP digital signal processor
- codec compressor/decompressor
- DAA distributed access arrangement
- processor can be used to handle some modem operations. Thus, some functionality performed
- the DSP of a software modem performs many different signal processing
- telephony tasks such as pulse or tone dialing. These tasks are implemented in a single software
- communication software includes at least one controller and a plurality of objects with the
- the controller enables the application software to activate one or
- the objects of the communication system often comprise driver modules having
- the at least one controller of the communication system is configured to control the communication system
- the plurality of objects are individually configured
- objects and the plurality of objects are often selected from the group consisting of drivers,
- the method comprises creating a
- the method may also comprise modifying individual software modules from the
- software modules may comprise debugging, upgrading, or isolating the individual software
- the communication software oftentimes the communication software and a modem card.
- the communication software oftentimes the communication software and a modem card.
- controller includes a controller and a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules being independent
- modem card often includes another controller, additional modules, and communication
- the another controller controls which of the additional modules to activate for
- the plurality of modules of the software modem are often modifiable independently
- modules may be added to the plurality of modules
- the controller of the modem card Similar to the modules of the communication software, the modules of the modem card may be added to the additional modules already existing in the communication software.
- the executable entities include at least a
- controller and a data pump with the controller operating as an interface between an operating
- the data pump includes at least a scheduler and a hardware driver, the
- scheduler interacting with additional self-contained executable entities and enabling the data
- inventions often comprise driver modules having individual modem functionality.
- scheduler enables the data pump to operate using a single one of the additional self-contained
- executable entities are individually modifiable and individually replaceable without regard to
- executable entities are commonly selected from the group consisting of drivers, data link
- the data pump includes a controller and a data pump.
- the data pump may include an abstraction layer, a
- the scheduler scheduler, a sampler, a hardware driver, and a plurality of modules.
- the plurality of modules are configured to schedule a sampler, a hardware driver, and a plurality of modules.
- the scheduler such that only modules specified by the instructions are executed in the software modem.
- the modules of the software modem are modifiable independently
- the modifiable modules comprise modules which enable
- Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary communication system built in
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the communication system of Figure 1 wherein the
- FIG. 3 is a block diagram of portions of the communication system of Figure 1
- Figure 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system built in accordance with
- FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the software modem of Figure 4 illustrated in greater
- Figure 6 is a block diagram of exemplary self-contained signal processing tasks or
- Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary communication system 100 built in
- communication system 100 communicates with a communication channel 102 via application
- a user controls the application software 104 in order to operate the
- the application software 104 interacts with the communication
- the object(s) 112 are interchangeable, modifiable, updateable, upgradeable, and may
- one object 112 can interact with the
- Another embodiment provides multiple objects 112 to interact
- Yet another embodiment provides for multiple
- individual object(s) 112 can be modified without interfering with other object(s) 112.
- object(s) 112 also enable the communication system 100 to operate using only the required
- required object(s) 112 are activated or accessed depending on requirements from the
- the communication system 100 enables multi-task plug-
- Figure 2 is a block diagram of the communication system 100 of Figure 1 wherein the
- card 200 includes the communication hardware 108 and a controller 202 that controls
- object(s) 204 and activates specific ones of the object(s) 204 on the modem card 200
- object(s) 204 interact either directly or indirectly with the
- controller 206 having a controller 206 is illustrated for controlling object(s) 208 as they interact with
- the application software 210 and the modem card 200.
- the objects 204 and 208 interact as
- controllers 202 and 206 directed by the controllers 202 and 206, respectively, and create the interface between the
- FIG. 3 is a block diagram of portions of the communication system of Figure 1
- the application software 104 having multiple components. Specifically, in this embodiment, the application software 104
- Particular software applications 300 direct the communication software 106 in
- controller 110 is directed to activate one of the objects
- Figure 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system 400 built in accordance with
- the application 406 is a standard modem application for a
- the driver 408 is a standard communication driver.
- the hardware interface 410 typically
- FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the software modem 404 illustrated in greater detail
- the software modem 404 is illustrated having a plurality of modules
- DPAL data pump abstraction layer
- AMOS advanced modem operation scheduler
- the software modem 404 includes a plurality of driver modules 512 that interact
- controller 502 and the hardware interface 510 are often referred to as the "data pump" of the
- the data pump implements the scheduler (AMOS) 506
- modems commonly provide both data and fax capabilities, and data modulations are not needed for fax sessions.
- the scheduler 506 of the data pump loads only the driver
- the scheduler 506 will load only the speaker phone
- driver module is typically implemented as one of the driver modules 512 and the scheduler
- 506 loads the required driver module(s) into memory of the computer exclusive of the other
- Figure 6 is a block diagram of exemplary self-contained signal processing tasks or
- driver modules that operate in conjunction with the software modem 404. As illustrated, the
- driver modules 600 could include at least the following drivers, a V.90 driver 602, a K56Flex
- modem driver 604 a fax driver 606, a tone generator driver 608, a speaker phone driver 610,
- V.90 driver 602 represents the 56.0 kbps modem standard
- the K56Flex modem driver 604 is a
- the modem driver 606 represents
- the tone generator driver 608 represents the
- the speaker phone driver for producing modem tones during modem 404 operation, the speaker phone driver
- driver 612 lines of the other type of driver 612, numerous additional types of driver modules can be
- the multiple driver software modem 404 provides a software data pump in which
- each driver is a separate self contained object such as a driver, a data link library (DLL), a
- the scheduler 506 decides which driver should be loaded into computer memory,
- a typical modem task is a modulation, such as V.90, V.34, a tone
- Another module could be implemented in which all the hardware accesses are
Abstract
A multi-task structure for a software modem including a plurality of self-contained executable entities. The executable entities include at least a controller and a data pump with the controller operating as an interface between an operating system driver and the data pump when signals are passed from the operating system driver to the data pump. In addition, the data pump includes at least a scheduler and a hardware driver, the scheduler interacting with additional self-contained executable entities and enabling the data pump to operate using one or more individual ones of the additional self-contained executable entities according to the signals passed from the controller to the data pump.
Description
INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY
(Attorney Docket No. 98RSS214PCT)
0
MULTI-TASK PLUG-IN ARCHITECTURE FOR SOFTWARE MODEM
Zeev COLLIN, Tal TAMIR
5
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. Non-
o provisional Patent Application Serial No. 09/154,643, filed September 17, 1998, pending, which
is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and U.S. Non-provisional Patent
Application Serial No. 09/193,066, filed November 16, 1998, pending, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to software modems, and more particularly to a software
modem having a data pump with a plurality of self contained executable modules for updating
and adding drivers to the software modem.
0 2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional modems accept digital data supplied by a computer system and convert it
into modulated analog waves that are transmitted over a communication channel such as an
analog telephone line. Modems also accept modulated analog waves via the communication
channel and convert them into a digital form to pass on to the computer system.
Conventional modems using a telephone line communication channel send data at
speeds commonly measured in bits per second, or bps. The most common modem speeds are
28,800 bps, 33,600 bps, and 56,000 bps. However, the actual speed of data moving across a
telephone line varies and does not always equal the speed that the modem is capable of
providing because the telephone line may operate with interference. Thus, to assure data
integrity, data often travels across a telephone line communication channel at a lower speed than
is available from the modem.
Modems have been classified according to various parameters such as potential modem
speed, data compression techniques, and other communication protocols. Common
classifications include V.34, for 33.6 kbps modems and V.90, for the 56 kbps modem standard.
A typical hardware modem operating on a general purpose computer includes a
controller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a codec (compressor/decompressor), and a digital
access arrangement (DAA). External hardware modems typically include a universal
asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART) while internal hardware modems replace the UART
with a hardware driver.
As processing power in general purpose computers has increased through development
of higher powered microprocessors, modem designers have realized that the computer's
processor can be used to handle some modem operations. Thus, some functionality performed
by conventional hardware modems has begun to be implemented in software. As time goes
one, more and more functionality of hardware modems is being realized in software. However,
each time that new functionality is converted to software, the new software functionality is
added to a single software object. Thus, if one part of the functionality is found to be operating
improperly, the whole software object must be replaced.
The DSP of a software modem, by nature, performs many different signal processing
tasks, e.g., data modulations, fax modulations, etc. In addition, the data pump performs general
telephony tasks such as pulse or tone dialing. These tasks are implemented in a single software
object and, in operation, consume a large amount of a computer's memory. Further, if the
software modem is to be updated or changed, the whole object must be replaced. A hardware
change in one area of the modem also requires total object replacement even though only a
small portion of the object is affected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Various aspects of the present invention can be found in a communication system
comprising application software, communication software that interacts with the application
software, and communication hardware that interacts with the communication software. The
communication software includes at least one controller and a plurality of objects with the
communication software operating as an interface between the application software and the
communication hardware. Thus, the application software communicates with the
communication hardware. The controller enables the application software to activate one or
more individual ones of the plurality of objects to provide communication between the
communication system and a communication channel.
The objects of the communication system often comprise driver modules having
individual modem functionality. The at least one controller of the communication system
enables the communication software to operate using a single one of the plurality of objects
during operation of the communication system. The plurality of objects are individually
modifiable and individually replaceable without regard to other ones of the plurality of
objects and the plurality of objects are often selected from the group consisting of drivers,
data link libraries, and threads.
Various other aspects of the present invention are realized in a method for operating a
software modem on a computer system having a memory. The method comprises creating a
plurality of software modules that interact with one another to perform software modem tasks
on the computer system, scheduling the plurality of software modem tasks according to
specific operations of the software modem, loading individual software modules into the
memory of the computer system on an as needed basis as the software modem operates on the
computer system, and unloading individual software modules from the memory of the
computer system when the individual software module is no longer required for operation of
the software modem on the computer system.
The method may also comprise modifying individual software modules from the
plurality of software modules with the modifications occurring independently of software
modules in the plurality of software modules that remain unmodified. Modifying individual
software modules may comprise debugging, upgrading, or isolating the individual software
modules, in some cases, to perform diagnostics on the software modem independent of the
remaining software modules of the software modem.
Further, a software modem according to principles of the present invention may
include communication software and a modem card. The communication software often
includes a controller and a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules being independent
from one another and operating according to instructions received from the controller such
that only modules specified by the instructions are executed in the software modem. The
modem card often includes another controller, additional modules, and communication
hardware. The another controller controls which of the additional modules to activate for
interaction with the communication hardware.
The plurality of modules of the software modem are often modifiable independently
of one another and the controller. In fact, modules may be added to the plurality of modules
already existing in the communication software of the software modem. In addition, the
additional modules of the modem card are modifiable independently from one another and
the controller of the modem card. Similar to the modules of the communication software, the
modules of the modem card may be added to the additional modules already existing in the
modem card of the software modem.
Other aspects of the present invention can be found in a software modem including a
plurality of self-contained executable entities. The executable entities include at least a
controller and a data pump with the controller operating as an interface between an operating
system driver and the data pump when signals are passed from the operating system driver to
the data pump. The data pump includes at least a scheduler and a hardware driver, the
scheduler interacting with additional self-contained executable entities and enabling the data
pump to operate using one or more individual ones of the additional self-contained executable
entities according to the signals passed from the controller to the data pump.
The self-contained executable entities of the software modem according to the present
invention often comprise driver modules having individual modem functionality. The
scheduler enables the data pump to operate using a single one of the additional self-contained
executable entities during operation of the software modem. The additional self-contained
executable entities are individually modifiable and individually replaceable without regard to
other ones of the additional self-contained executable entities. The additional self-contained
executable entities are commonly selected from the group consisting of drivers, data link
logic, and threads.
Still other aspects of the present invention can be found in a software modem that
includes a controller and a data pump. The data pump may include an abstraction layer, a
scheduler, a sampler, a hardware driver, and a plurality of modules. The plurality of modules
are independent from one another and operate according to instructions received from the
scheduler such that only modules specified by the instructions are executed in the software
modem. Advantageously, the modules of the software modem are modifiable independently
of one another and the controller. The modifiable modules comprise modules which enable
adding additional modules to the plurality of modules already existing in the data pump of the
software modem.
Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent with further reference to
the drawings and specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following
detailed description of the preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the
following drawings.
Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary communication system built in
accordance with the principles of the present invention wherein, as illustrated, the
communication system communicates with a communication channel via application
software, communication software, and communication hardware.
Figure 2 is a block diagram of the communication system of Figure 1 wherein the
communication hardware of Figure 1 is illustrated as being part of a modem card.
Figure 3 is a block diagram of portions of the communication system of Figure 1
wherein the application software and communication hardware are illustrated having multiple
components.
Figure 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system built in accordance with
the principles of the present invention wherein the computer system is illustrated interacting
with a telephone line via components such as a software modem.
Figure 5 is a block diagram of the software modem of Figure 4 illustrated in greater
detail than in Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a block diagram of exemplary self-contained signal processing tasks or
driver modules that operate in conjunction with the software modem of Figure 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary communication system 100 built in
accordance with the principles of the present invention wherein, as illustrated, the
communication system 100 communicates with a communication channel 102 via application
software 104, communication software 106, and communication hardware 108. In one
embodiment, a user controls the application software 104 in order to operate the
communication system 100. The application software 104 interacts with the communication
software 106 and prompts a controller 110 to determine which object(s) 112 to activate in
order to operate the communication hardware 108 and carry out communications through the
communication channel 102.
The object(s) 112 are interchangeable, modifiable, updateable, upgradeable, and may
increase in number or in size. In one embodiment, one object 112 can interact with the
application software 104 and activate other objects 112 to provide interaction with the
communication hardware 108. Another embodiment provides multiple objects 112 to interact
with the application software 104 and, together, activate a single object 112 for interaction
with the communication hardware 108. Yet another embodiment provides for multiple
objects 112 to interact with the application software 104 and then, in turn, to interact with
multiple object 112 for interaction with the communication hardware 108. Advantageously,
individual object(s) 112 can be modified without interfering with other object(s) 112. The
object(s) 112 also enable the communication system 100 to operate using only the required
object(s) 112 for the requested function in the communication system 100. Further, only the
required object(s) 112 are activated or accessed depending on requirements from the
communication hardware 108. Thus, the communication system 100 enables multi-task plug-
in objects and operates more efficiently than prior art communication systems.
Figure 2 is a block diagram of the communication system 100 of Figure 1 wherein the
communication hardware 108 is illustrated as being part of a modem card 200. The modem
card 200 includes the communication hardware 108 and a controller 202 that controls
object(s) 204 and activates specific ones of the object(s) 204 on the modem card 200
according to desired operations of the communications system 100. Like the communication
system 100 of Figure 1, object(s) 204 interact either directly or indirectly with the
communication hardware 108 as instructed by the controller 202. Communication software
205 having a controller 206 is illustrated for controlling object(s) 208 as they interact with
application software 210 and the modem card 200. The objects 204 and 208 interact as
directed by the controllers 202 and 206, respectively, and create the interface between the
communication software 205 and the modem card 200.
Figure 3 is a block diagram of portions of the communication system of Figure 1
wherein the application software 104 and communication hardware 108 are illustrated as
having multiple components. Specifically, in this embodiment, the application software 104
comprises a plurality of software applications 300 for user access to the communication
software 106. Particular software applications 300 direct the communication software 106 in
particular manners. For example, the controller 110 is directed to activate one of the objects
112 which in turn activates another of the objects 112 which in turn interacts with a portion
302 of the communication hardware 108. The portion 302 of the communication hardware
108 then interacts with another portion 302 which in turn interacts with the communication
channel 102. Of course, other variations and combinations of the process of the application
software 104 interacting with the communication channel 102 are possible and the above
example is offered only for illustrative purposes.
Figure 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system 400 built in accordance
with the principles of the present invention wherein the computer system 400 is illustrated
interacting with a telephone line 402 via components such as a software modem 404. An
application 406 accesses the software modem 404 through an operating system
communication driver 408 and the software modem 404 accesses the telephone line 402
through a hardware interface 410. The application 406 is a standard modem application for a
user to operate a modem on the computer system 400. The operating system communication
driver 408 is a standard communication driver. The hardware interface 410 typically
comprises a codec and a DAA and provides a path for the software modem 404 to
communicate with the telephone line 402.
Figure 5 is a block diagram of the software modem 404 illustrated in greater detail
than in Figure 4. The software modem 404 is illustrated having a plurality of modules
including a port driver 500, a controller 502, a data pump abstraction layer (DPAL) 504, an
advanced modem operation scheduler (AMOS) 506, a sampler 508, and a hardware driver
510. Further, the software modem 404 includes a plurality of driver modules 512 that interact
with the other modules in the software modem 404. Collectively, the modules between the
controller 502 and the hardware interface 510 are often referred to as the "data pump" of the
software modem 404.
Of particular note, the plurality of modules of the software modem 404 have been
divided into individual tasks rather than being combined into a single object as in the related
art. Specifically, in one embodiment, the data pump implements the scheduler (AMOS) 506
to select only the appropriate driver modules 512 for the requested modem task. For
example, modems commonly provide both data and fax capabilities, and data modulations are
not needed for fax sessions. Thus, the scheduler 506 of the data pump loads only the driver
modules 512 for data modulation during data modulation operations. Likewise, if the modem
404 is to operate as a speaker phone, the scheduler 506 will load only the speaker phone
module into memory. Similarly, each modem task that can be performed with an individual
driver module is typically implemented as one of the driver modules 512 and the scheduler
506 loads the required driver module(s) into memory of the computer exclusive of the other
driver modules that are not required.
Figure 6 is a block diagram of exemplary self-contained signal processing tasks or
driver modules that operate in conjunction with the software modem 404. As illustrated, the
driver modules 600 could include at least the following drivers, a V.90 driver 602, a K56Flex
modem driver 604, a fax driver 606, a tone generator driver 608, a speaker phone driver 610,
or other type of driver 612. The V.90 driver 602 represents the 56.0 kbps modem standard
adopted by the modem Standards Committee. Similarly, the K56Flex modem driver 604 is a
modem driver used by some modem manufacturers. Of course, the fax driver 606 represents
a driver to be used for facsimile transmission, the tone generator driver 608 represents the
driver for producing modem tones during modem 404 operation, the speaker phone driver
610 provides speaker phone capability for the modem 404, and as represented by the dotted
lines of the other type of driver 612, numerous additional types of driver modules can be
included to operate the modem 404 with the scheduler 506.
The multiple driver software modem 404 provides a software data pump in which
each driver is a separate self contained object such as a driver, a data link library (DLL), a
thread, etc. The scheduler 506 decides which driver should be loaded into computer memory,
which driver should be activated, and what samples (if any) should be streamed to/from each
of the drivers to the hardware interface 410. Dividing these tasks into separate drivers
provides for efficient usage of computer memory because drivers can be loaded into memory
only as needed for each particular session and unloaded in accordance with the session
progress.
Since different drivers are loosely coupled, whenever a driver is modified, the other
drivers that do not involve the modified driver do not need to be tested as would be required
in a single object data pump. In particular, fixing a bug in a driver only requires replacement
of a single driver and the rest of the software modem remains unchanged. These advantages
also apply in the development stage, e.g., a new driver may be replaced without modifying
the rest of the modem and each driver can be more easily isolated and developed separately.
In operation, a typical modem task is a modulation, such as V.90, V.34, a tone
detector, or any other task such as a pulse dialer. Individual modules are available for each of
these tasks. Another module could be implemented in which all the hardware accesses are
contained in a single module thereby providing an abstract interface to other modules.
The above-listed sections and included information are not exhaustive and are only
exemplary for computer systems. The particular sections and included information in a
particular embodiment may depend upon the particular implementation and the included
devices and resources. Although a system and method according to the present invention has
been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to be limited
to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A communication system comprising:
application software;
communication software that interacts with the application software;
communication hardware that interacts with the communication software;
the communication software including at least one controller and a plurality of
objects, the communication software operating as an interface between the application
software and the communication hardware such that the application software communicates
with the communication hardware; and
the at least one controller enabling the application software to activate one or more
individual ones of the plurality of objects to provide communication between the
communication system and a communication channel.
2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of objects comprise driver
modules having individual modem functionality.
3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller enables the
communication software to operate using a single one of the plurality of objects during
operation of the communication system.
4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of objects are
individually modifiable and individually replaceable without regard to other ones of the
plurality of objects.
5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of objects are selected
from the group consisting of drivers, data link libraries, and threads.
6. A method for operating a software modem on a computer system having a memory,
the method comprising:
creating a plurality of software modules that interact with one another to perform
software modem tasks on the computer system;
scheduling the plurality of software modem tasks according to specific operations of
the software modem;
loading individual software modules into the memory of the computer system on an as
needed basis as the software modem operates on the computer system; and
unloading individual software modules from the memory of the computer system
when the individual software module is no longer required for operation of the software
modem on the computer system.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising modifying individual software modules
from the plurality of software modules, the modifications occurring independently of
remaining software modules in the plurality of software modules.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of modifying individual software modules
comprises debugging the individual software module.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of modifying individual software modules
comprises upgrading the individual software module.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of modifying individual software modules
comprises isolating the individual software module to perform diagnostics on the software
modem independent of remaining software modules of the software modem.
11. A software modem comprising:
communication software and a modem card;
the communication software including a controller and a plurality of modules, the
plurality of modules being independent from one another and operating according to
instructions received from the controller such that only modules specified by the instructions
are executed in the software modem; and
the modem card including another controller, additional modules, and communication
hardware, the another controller controlling which of the additional modules to activate for
interaction with the communication hardware.
12. The software modem of claim 11 wherein the plurality of modules are modifiable
independently of one another and the controller.
13. The software modem of claim 12 wherein modules may be added to the plurality of
modules already existing in the communication software of the software modem.
14. The software modem of claim 11 wherein the additional modules of the modem card
are modifiable independently from one another and the another controller.
15. The software modem of claim 14 wherein modules may be added to the additional
modules already existing in the modem card of the software modem.
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP99969200A EP1114548B1 (en) | 1998-09-17 | 1999-09-17 | Multi-task plug-in architecture for software modem |
AT99969200T ATE441992T1 (en) | 1998-09-17 | 1999-09-17 | PLUGABLE MULTI-PROCESS ARCHITECTURE FOR A SOFTWARE MODEM |
DE69941360T DE69941360D1 (en) | 1998-09-17 | 1999-09-17 | PLUGGABLE MULTIPROCESS ARCHITECTURE FOR A SOFTWARE MODEM |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15464398A | 1998-09-17 | 1998-09-17 | |
US09/154,643 | 1998-09-17 | ||
US09/193,066 | 1998-11-16 | ||
US09/193,066 US6427178B2 (en) | 1998-03-04 | 1998-11-16 | Software modem having a multi-task plug-in architecture |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2000016534A1 true WO2000016534A1 (en) | 2000-03-23 |
Family
ID=26851618
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1999/021660 WO2000016534A1 (en) | 1998-09-17 | 1999-09-17 | Multi-task plug-in architecture for software modem |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6427178B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1114548B1 (en) |
TW (1) | TWI221718B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000016534A1 (en) |
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US7200138B2 (en) * | 2000-03-01 | 2007-04-03 | Realtek Semiconductor Corporation | Physical medium dependent sub-system with shared resources for multiport xDSL system |
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US8601492B2 (en) * | 2001-03-31 | 2013-12-03 | Siebel Systems, Inc. | User interface for multi-channel communication |
US7315616B2 (en) * | 2001-03-31 | 2008-01-01 | Siebel Systems, Inc. | System and method for maintaining real-time agent information for multi-channel communication queuing |
US7730204B2 (en) * | 2001-03-31 | 2010-06-01 | Siebel Systems, Inc. | Extensible interface for inter-module communication |
US8091042B2 (en) | 2001-11-15 | 2012-01-03 | Siebel Systems, Inc. | Apparatus and method for displaying selectable icons in a toolbar for a user interface |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
TWI221718B (en) | 2004-10-01 |
US20010039596A1 (en) | 2001-11-08 |
EP1114548B1 (en) | 2009-09-02 |
US6427178B2 (en) | 2002-07-30 |
EP1114548A1 (en) | 2001-07-11 |
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