Claims
- 1. A modem comprising a processor having an instruction set comprising instructions individually specifying properties of signals to be handled by the modem.
- 2. The modem of claim 1 in which the instructions for specifying properties of signals to be handled by the modem comprise an instruction for specifying sending or receiving a signal for a fixed number of symbols.
- 3. The modem of claim 1 in which the instructions for specifying properties of signals to be handled by the modem comprise an instruction for specifying sending or receiving on a channel a signal until one of a fixed number of symbols has been sent or until a particular state is recognized in another channel, whichever occurs first.
- 4. The modem of claim 1 in which the instructions for specifying properties of signals to be handled by the modem comprise an instruction for specifying sending a signal for a duration equal to a variable number of symbols plus a number of round trip delay times.
- 5. The modem of claim 1 in which the instructions for specifying properties of signals to be handled by the modem comprise an instruction for specifying sending a signal for a specified duration plus a number of round trip delay times.
- 6. The modem of claim 1 in which the instructions for specifying properties of signals to be handled by the modem comprise an instruction for specifying setting a timer for a specified duration plus a number of round trip delay times.
- 7. The modem of claim 1 in which the instructions for specifying properties of signals to be handled by the modem comprise an instruction for specifying sending of a signal over one channel until a particular state is recognized in another channel.
- 8. A modem implemented on a digital signal processor, comprising a library of commands stored on said digital signal processor, said library of commands comprising commands individually specifying properties of signals to be handled by the modem.
- 9. A method of operating a modem, comprising the steps of:
a. storing a plurality of instructions individually specifying properties of signals to be handled by the modem in memory; and b. making those instructions available for processing signals sent from and received by said modem.
- 10. The method of claim 9 in which the instructions for specifying properties of signals to be handled by the modem comprise at least one of an instruction for specifying sending or receiving a signal for a fixed number of symbols;
an instruction for specifying sending or receiving on a channel a signal until one of a fixed number of symbols has been sent or until a particular state is recognized in another channel, whichever occurs first; an instruction for specifying sending a signal for a duration equal to a variable number of symbols plus a number of round trip delay times; an instruction for specifying sending a signal for a specified duration plus a number of round trip delay times; an instruction for specifying setting a timer for a specified duration plus a number of round trip delay times and an instruction for specifying sending of a signal over one channel until a particular state is recognized in another channel.
- 11. A method of implementing a modem on a digital signal processor, comprising the steps of:
a. storing a library of commands on said digital signal processor, said library of commands comprising commands individually specifying properties of signals to be handled by the modem; and b. making those instructions available for processing signals send from and received by said modem.
- 12. The method of claim 11 in which the commands individually specifying properties of signals to be handled by the modem comprise at least one of:
a command for specifying sending or receiving a signal for a fixed number of symbols; a command for specifying sending or receiving on a channel a signal until one of a fixed number of symbols has been sent or until a particular state is recognized in another channel, whichever occurs first; a command for specifying sending a signal for a duration equal to a variable number of symbols plus a number of round trip delay times; a command for specifying sending a signal for a specified duration plus a number of round trip delay times; a command for specifying setting a timer for a specified duration plus a number of round trip delay times and a command for specifying sending of a signal over one channel until a particular state is recognized in another channel.
- 13. A communications system comprising:
a. a communications network; and b. at least two computers connected to said network, at least one of which comprises a modem containing a command set, at least one of commands contained in said command set permitting direct specification of properties of at least one signal to be handled by the modem.
- 14. The method of claim 13 in which the commands permitting direct specification of properties of at least one signal to be handled by the modem comprise at least one of:
a command for specifying sending or receiving a signal for a fixed number of symbols; a command for specifying sending or receiving on a channel a signal until one of a fixed number of symbols has been sent or until a particular state is recognized in another channel, whichever occurs first; a command for specifying sending a signal for a duration equal to a variable number of symbols plus a number of round trip delay times; a command for specifying sending a signal for a specified duration plus a number of round trip delay times; a command for specifying setting a timer for a specified duration plus a number of round trip delay times and a command for specifying sending of a signal over one channel until a particular state is recognized in another channel.
- 15. A method of communicating across a communications network using modems, comprising the step of:
a. specifying signals to be send or received from a modem using commands, the functions of which are to specify properties of signals to be handled by the modem.
- 16. The method of claim 13 in which the commands comprise at least one of:
a command for specifying sending or receiving a signal for a fixed number of symbols; a command for specifying sending or receiving on a channel a signal until one of a fixed number of symbols has been sent or until a particular state is recognized in another channel, whichever occurs first; a command for specifying sending a signal for a duration equal to a variable number of symbols plus a number of round trip delay times; a command for specifying sending a signal for a specified duration plus a number of round trip delay times; a command for specifying setting a timer for a specified duration plus a number of round trip delay times; and a command for specifying sending of a signal over one channel until a particular state is recognized in another channel.
- 17. A computer program product, comprising:
a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program comprising instructions, the functions of which are to specify properties of signals to be handled by the modem.
- 18. The computer program product of claim 17, in which the instructions, the functions of which are to specify properties of signals to be handled by the modem comprise one of an instruction for specifying sending or receiving a signal for a fixed number of symbols;
an instruction for specifying sending or receiving on a channel a signal until one of a fixed number of symbols has been sent or until a particular state is recognized in another channel, whichever occurs first; an instruction for specifying sending a signal for a duration equal to a variable number of symbols plus a number of round trip delay times; an instruction for specifying sending a signal for a specified duration plus a number of round trip delay times; an instruction for specifying setting a timer for a specified duration plus a number of round trip delay times; and an instruction for specifying sending of a signal over one channel until a particular state is recognized in another channel.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/832,622 filed Mar. 31, 1997, by inventors Jim Bader, Scott Deans, Rob Miller, Richard P. Tarquini, Bankim Wani and Jack Waters, entitled “CONTROLLERLESS MODEM”, (Docket No. 0594-COMM (50246-015/3171-003)).