COUPLING DEVICE TO BE CONNECTED TO A DCE FOR ALLOWING THE CONNECTION TO DIFFERENT PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORKS, DCE AND WORKSTATION INCLUDING THE SAME

摘要

COUPLING DEVICE TO BE CONNECTED TO A DCE FOR ALLOWING THE CONNECTION TO DIFFERENT PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORKS, DCE AND WORKSTATION INCLUDING THE SAME Coupling device according to the invention for connecting a DCE to a PSTN including the electronic components matching the electric requirements of a specific PSTN. The coupling device comprises plugging means for removably connecting the latter to the DCE, means for storing an identification code corresponding to a specific type of PSTN to which the coupler is intended to be connected to. The coupling device further comprises means responsive to a control signal received from the DCE for transmitting the identification code to the DCE. The DCE connected to the coupling device includes processing means and a storage for storing tables, each table comprising data characterizing a specific PSTN which the DCE is intended to operate with. The DCE reads the identification code during an identification phase by transmitting the control signal and selects in response to said reading the appropriate table corresponding to the coupling device. Therefore, by simply connecting an appropriate coupling device, a same DCE can be easily adapted to operate with a specific PSTN. Moreover, since the voluminous components are located into the coupling device, the DCE can be easily integrated, for example in one workstation.