Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Peripheral monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-16
2001-11-06
Lee, Thomas (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Peripheral monitoring
C710S008000, C710S012000, C710S019000, C709S221000, C709S226000, C709S229000, C709S241000, C714S025000, C714S717000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314475
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication systems and more particularly to a computer communication system that, among other things, monitors, controls, and configures communication parameters of the computer communication system while one computer system communicates with another computer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In traditional implementations, control and monitoring of computer communication systems primarily concern monitoring and controlling internal parameters of modems and are performed through the use of modem control strings such as “AT commands”. AT commands require a user to switch the modem from data to command mode so that the modem can be controlled with AT commands. Thus, AT commands interfere with the typical data flow of the modem and the commands do not reflect the true state of the modem in real time. Of note, in some traditional hardware modem implementations, limited control and status monitoring capabilities are obtained through adding special non-standard hardware interfaces. However, these special hardware interfaces are a relatively expensive solution to the problem of real time modem monitoring and the usage is limited due to its complexity.
If the user chooses not to add the additional network equipment to retrieve the modem information, the user is forced to rely on verbal guidance from another person, such as a support technician, located at a second modem site. This support technician views the parameters of the modem connection from their end of the connection, performs a modem diagnosis based on available resources, and reports configuration options to the user for manual modem control and monitoring. Clearly, this process for modem monitoring and control is unsatisfactory because, among other things, the process requires detailed and easily misunderstood verbal instructions for modem configuration, the process requires the modem to be switched from data to command mode to enter the diagnostic commands for modem configuration, and at least two people are required to diagnose and configure a single modem. Thus, the monitor and configuration process is time consuming and frustrating for those involved.
Of current interest is a computer communication system that overcomes the disadvantages of the related art. Among other advantages and benefits, the computer communication system according to the principles of the present invention monitors, controls, and configures communication parameters of the computer communication system while one computer system communicates with another computer system. In one embodiment, the computer communication system provides a modem monitor and control system that provides modem monitoring and control without requiring user interaction or switching the modem between data and command modes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Various aspects of the present invention can be found in a communication system for monitoring and controlling communication parameters of a communication device. The communication system includes a communication device (often a modem) and a communication channel. The communication device, e.g., the modem, has internal settings representing communication parameters and is communicatively coupled to the communication channel to carry out ongoing communications from the modem through the communication channel. The communication system also includes a software module that is associated with the modem. The software module accesses the internal settings of the modem via the communication channel and performs diagnostics using the internal settings of the modem.
The software module of the communication system also includes a modem interface that interacts with the software module and assists the software module in performing diagnostics using the internal parameters of the modem. The software module accesses the communication channel transparently to the ongoing communications from the modem when the software module performs the diagnostics using the internal parameters of the modem. The software module may also access the communication channel without detrimentally affecting the ongoing communications across the communication channel. The software module may also perform diagnostics using the internal parameters of the modem via the same communication channel that is used to carry out ongoing communications to and from the modem.
In other embodiments, the diagnostics performed by the software module of the communication system comprises monitoring a data stream in the communication channel. The diagnostics performed by the software module may comprise configuring the internal settings of the modem based on information obtained regarding a data stream to and from the modem. The diagnostics may also comprise controlling the internal settings of the modem according to information obtained regarding a data stream to and from the modem. The communication system may also include a user interactive interface in the software module for diagnostics and a plurality of software modules associated, respectively, with each of a plurality of modems.
The modem of the communication system is frequently communicatively coupled to the communication channel and thus to a network. The network is selected from the group consisting of at least a local area network, a wide area network, and a global area network.
Various other aspects of the present invention can be found in a communication system comprising a first communication device having internal parameters, a second communication device having internal parameters and being communicatively coupled to the first communication device, a communications link that passes a data stream between the first communication device and the second communication device, and a module associated with the communications link that adjusts the internal parameters of the first communication device based on characteristics of the internal parameters of the first communication device, the second communication device, or both.
The module of the communication system may also include a communication interface that interacts with the communications link such that the module operates transparently to the data stream of the communications link. Further, the first communication device may comprise a local communication device and the second communication device comprises a remote communication device. The first communication device and the second communication device, respectively, often comprise a first modem and a second modem. The communications link often operates on a network being selected from the group consisting of a local area network, a wide area network, and a global area network. In many embodiments, the communication system comprises a computer communication system and the module adjusts the internal parameters of the first communication device based on characteristics of the internal parameters of the first communication device, the second communication device, or both.
Still further aspects of the present invention are found in a method for adjusting parameters of a communication system. The method comprises establishing a communications link between a first communication device and a second communication device, each communication device having internal parameters influencing communication protocols on the communications link; obtaining a software module for interacting with the communications link; retrieving, with the software module, characteristics of the first communication device based on the internal parameters of the first communication device, the second communication device, or both; and adjusting the internal parameters according to the retrieved characteristics to optimize communication between the first and the second communication devices on the communications link.
Adjusting the internal parameters may include adjusting the internal parameters of the first communication device, and, in addition, adjusting the internal parameters may include monitoring or controlling the internal parameters of the first communication device
Collin Zeev
Tamir Tal
Conexant Systems Inc.
Farjami & Farjami LLP
Lee Thomas
Schuster Katharina
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