Method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a modem capable of transmitting and receiving both voice and data signals

摘要

The present invention enables a dial modem capable of simultaneous voice and data (SVD) operation and connected to a conventional telephone set to automatically select between SVD operation, analog voice operation and digital data operation when transmitting or receiving communication signals based on the position of the telephone set's hookswitch. The invention includes a hookswitch position detector, connected to the telephone set, for sensing the current position of the hookswitch, and a signal controller, connected to the hookswitch position detector. The signal controller may be configured to enable either of two hookswitch control option settings. The hookswitch control option settings determine the manner in which the controller responds to the current hookswitch position ("on-hook" or "off-hook") detected by the hookswitch position detector. The first hookswitch control option setting causes the signal controller to disable the initiation of SVD operation by the modem when originating and receiving calls if the hookswitch position detector indicates that the hookswitch position is "off-hook." The second hookswitch control option setting causes the signal controller to enable the initiation of SVD operation by the modem when originating and receiving calls if the hookswitch position detector indicates that the hookswitch position is "off-hook.