Patent Publication Number: US-2005123108-A1

Title: Hands-free modem-on-hold

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The invention relates to modems. More particularly, the invention relates to allowing a hands-free telephone call with an electronic system (e.g., a computer system) while maintaining, with a modem, a data connection established before the telephone call is received and/or placing a hands-free telephone call while maintaining a data connection established before the telephone call is placed.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Currently, even with a rapid increase of Internet access via cable modems and digital subscriber line (DSL) connections, the most common technique for accessing the Internet is over a telephone line with a modem. When a modem is being used by a computer system or other device to communicate over a telephone line, the telephone line is not available for telephone calls, which is an inconvenience to people who my be interested in using the telephone line for telephone calls.  
      One shortcoming of modem use for data communication is that the telephone line used for data communication cannot be simultaneously used for voice communications. As a result a user must have a dedicated data communication line, which can be costly, or have a mechanism that allows for switching between data communications and voice communications using a single telephone line.  
      Devices and techniques that allow computer users to accept incoming telephone calls while a telephone line is being used by a modem currently exist. However, these devices and techniques are generally inconsistent and/or inconvenient for the user.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements.  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of an electronic system having a modem.  
       FIG. 2  is a conceptual block diagram of one embodiment of components to provide hands-free telephony in an electronic system having a modem.  
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a process for providing a hands-free telephone call received during a data communications session.  
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a process for placing a hands-free telephone call during a data communications session.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Methods and apparatuses for hands-free telephone calls with a computer system or other electronic device while a modem maintains a data session established before the telephone call are described. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of an electronic system having a modem. The electronic system illustrated in  FIG. 1  is intended to represent a range of electronic systems, for example, computer systems (whether desktop, laptop, palmtop, or other), network access devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), set-top boxes, etc. Alternative systems, whether electronic or non-electronic, can include more, fewer and/or different components. The components of  FIG. 1  can also be included within another, larger system.  
      Electronic system  100  includes bus  101  or other communication device to communicate information, and processor  102  coupled to bus  101  to process information. While electronic system  100  is illustrated with a single processor, electronic system  100  can include multiple processors and/or co-processors. Electronic system  100  further includes random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device  104  (referred to as memory), coupled to bus  101  to store information and instructions to be executed by processor  102 . Memory  104  also can be used to store temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by processor  102 .  
      Electronic system  100  also includes read only memory (ROM) and/or other static storage device  106  coupled to bus  101  to store static information and instructions for processor  102 . Data storage device  107  is coupled to bus  101  to store information and instructions. Data storage device  107  such as a magnetic disk or optical disc and corresponding drive can be coupled to electronic system  100 .  
      Electronic system  100  can also be coupled via bus  101  to display device  121 , such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD), to display information to a user. Alphanumeric input device  122 , including alphanumeric and other keys, or a touch pad interface, is typically coupled to bus  101  to communicate information and command selections to processor  102 . Another type of user input device, cursor control  123 , such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys to communicate direction information and command selections to processor  102  and to control cursor movement on display  121 . Electronic system  100  further includes network interface  130  to provide access to a network, such as a local area network.  
      Electronic system  100  further includes speaker(s)  155  and microphone  158  coupled with telephone interface  150 . Telephone interface  150  is coupled with bus  101  and is configured to allow a user of electronic system  100  to place and receive telephone calls using electronic system  100 . In one embodiment speaker(s)  155  and microphone  158  are integrated within a casing of electronic system  100 , or otherwise disposed so that the user of electronic system  100  can engage in a telephone conversation without holding a headset. That is, the user of electronic system  100  is not required to us his/her hands to engage in a telephone conversation. Receiving or initiating a telephone call may or may not require the user of electronic system  100  to use his/her hands.  
      Electronic system  100  further includes modem  175  coupled with bus  101 . Modem  175  allows electronic system  100  to communicate digital data over an analog communications medium, such as, for example, a telephone line. The general technique for communicating digital data over an analog communications medium is known in the art. As described in greater detail below, modem  175  is capable of maintaining a data connection for at least a predetermined period of time while a telephone call is transmitted or received via telephone interface  150 . In one embodiment, telephone interface  150 , speaker(s)  155  and/or microphone  158  are part of modem  175 . In alternate embodiments, some or none of telephone interface  150 , speaker(s)  155  and/or microphone  158  are part of modem  175 .  
      In one embodiment, telephone interface  150  and modem  175  operate in response to call waiting services provided by a telephone company. Telephone interface  150  and modem  175  accept an incoming telephone call without releasing the data connection. When the telephone call is terminated the modem  175  reconnects or continues where the data connection was interrupted.  
      As described in greater detail below, modem  175  places the data session “on hold” for a period of time (e.g., 4 minutes, 15 minutes, undetermined). The telephone call, whether incoming or outgoing, is processed by electronic system  100  so that a user can engage in a “hands-free” telephone conversation. When the telephone call is terminated, the data session is resumed. Thus, for an incoming call, a user of electronic system  100  can be engaged in a data session (e.g., using a telephone line to access the Internet) and be notified of an incoming telephone call. The user can accept the incoming telephone call, which places the data session on hold and uses at least one speaker and microphone of electronic system  100  to participate in the telephone call. Similarly, for an outgoing telephone call, the data session is placed on hold and at least one speaker and microphone of electronic system  100  to participate in the telephone call.  
      Instructions are provided to memory from a storage device, such as magnetic disk, a read-only memory (ROM) integrated circuit, CD-ROM, DVD, via a remote connection (e.g., over a network via network interface  130 ) that is either wired or wireless providing access to one or more electronically-accessible media, etc. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry can be used in place of or in combination with software instructions. Thus, execution of sequences of instructions is not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software instructions.  
      An electronically-accessible medium includes any mechanism that provides (i.e., stores and/or transmits) content (e.g., computer executable instructions) in a form readable by an electronic device (e.g., a computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone). For example, a machine-accessible medium includes read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals); etc.  
       FIG. 2  is a conceptual block diagram of one embodiment of components to provide hands-free telephony in an electronic system having a modem. The components illustrated in  FIG. 2  can be implemented as hardware, software or any combination of hardware and software. Further, the components of  FIG. 2  can be within the one or more blocks of electronic system  100  of  FIG. 1 .  
      Communications agent  240  provides data and/or control signals to data modem  210  and to speaker phone  220 . In one embodiment, data modem  210  and speaker phone  220  are included in modem agent  200 . In alternate embodiments, data modem  210  and speaker phone  220  can be separate components. Both data modem  210  and speaker phone  220  are coupled to access the same telephone line. Speaker phone  220  includes at least one speaker and at least one microphone (not illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) that allow a user of electronic system  100  to engage in a telephone conversation without being required to hold a handset or to wear a headset.  
      Data modem  210  and speaker phone  220  interact with communications agent  240  to provide hands-free telephony during a data session by placing the data session on hold to process a telephone call. As discussed above, electronic system  100  includes one or more I/O devices (labeled  245 ) that allow a user to interact with communications agent  240 .  
      In one embodiment, data modem  210  and communications agent  240  are implemented as a modem device to be used in a computer system, for example, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) based modem card to be placed in a PCI-compliant slot in the computer system and coupled with a PCI-compliant bus of the computer system. One embodiment of a PCI protocol and bus is described in PCI Specification Revision 2.1 developed by the PCI Special Interest Group of Portland, Oregon. Other interfaces and protocols can also be used, for example, PCI-Express Interface developed by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif.  
      In one embodiment, external speakers and/or microphone(s) are used for the hands-free telephone call. Some electronic systems have integrated speakers and/or microphone(s). If integrated speakers and/or microphone(s) are available use of external components may not be necssary.  
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a process for providing a hands-free telephone call received during a data communications session. The process of  FIG. 3  is performed after the initiation of a data session. In other words, a modem of an electronic system is used to establish a data session prior to receipt of the incoming telephone call. The modem used to establish the data session can communicate over either a wired or a wireless communications medium.  
      A telephone interface of the electronic system determines whether a telephone call is incoming,  310 . If the telephone interface detects no incoming call, the modem continues the data session  315 . If an incoming telephone call is detected at  310 , the electronic system provides an indication of the incoming call,  320 . In one embodiment, the modem of the electronic system detects the incoming call by detecting a call waiting signal. In one embodiment, the call waiting signal includes an indication of the source of the telephone call (e.g., a caller ID identifier). The indication of the incoming call can be provided, for example, with a pop-up window or an audible tone.  
      In one embodiment, the complete telephone call transaction can be completed in a hands-free manner. For example, the electronic system can provide a prompt indicating an incoming telephone call. The prompt can be a visual prompt (e.g., a pop-up window), an audio prompt (e.g., a beep or other tone), or a combination of visual and audio prompts. In one embodiment, the prompt is a recorded or simulated human voice indicating the incoming telephone call. The prompt can indicate the source of the telephone call as well as the option to accept the telephone call.  
      The user of the electronic system can respond to the prompt in any appropriate manner. For example, the user can click on a button of a dialog box or press a button. In one embodiment, the user responds to the prompt with a voice command. The user can either accept or reject the incoming telephone call with a voice command.  
      If the telephone call is not accepted at  330 , the data session is continued,  340 . The call can be accepted by a user of the electronic system by, for example, clicking a button, pressing a key, or providing an audible (e.g., vocal) response. If the telephone call is accepted at  330 , the data session is placed on hold,  350 . Placing the data session on hold is described in greater detail below. In one embodiment, the process of placing the data session on hold is performed by the modem.  
      When the data session has been placed on hold, the telephone call is processed,  360 . In one embodiment, processing the telephone call involves receiving the analog signals from the telephone connection and playing the signals using one or more speakers of the electronic system. Digital voice signals can also be played. Voice signals from one or more microphones of the electronic system are transmitted over the telephone connection.  
      Processing of the telephone call continues until the telephone call is terminated,  370 . In one embodiment, the telephone call is terminated in response to a voice command from the user. In alternate embodiments, the call can be terminated by the user pressing a button or selecting a command or graphical button. When the telephone call is terminated at  370 , the data session is resumed,  380 .  
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a process for placing a hands-free telephone call during a data communications session. The process of  FIG. 4  is performed after the initiation of a data session.  
      The data session continues until a call is initiated at  410 . In one embodiment, the call is initiated in response to a voice command by a user of an electronic system. In alternate embodiments, the call can be initiated, for example, by the user pressing a button, or selecting a command using a graphical user interface.  
      When a telephone call is initiated at  410 , the modem is placed on hold,  420 . The data session is then suspended while the telephone call is placed,  430 . For example, a user can provide a voice command to initiate a telephone call. The user can then be prompted for the telephone number for the call, which can be used to place the call. The telephone call is processed,  440  until the call is terminated,  450 . In response to the call being terminated, the data session is resumed,  460 .  
      In one embodiment, the telephone call is terminated in response to a voice command from the user. In alternate embodiments, the call can be terminated by the user pressing a button or selecting a command or graphical button. As discussed above, when a telephone call is initiated or accepted, the modem used for data communications places the data session on hold. In one embodiment, the modem conforms to ITU-T standard V.92 (SERIES V: DATA COMMUNICATION OVER THE TELEPHONE NETWORK, Simultaneous transmission of data and other signals), published November, 2000. In alternate embodiments, other modem standards and/or protocols can be used, for example, future developments and/or wireless protocols.  
      If the modem is a V.92 (or subsequent standard) modem, the modem-on-hold feature defined by the standard to place the data session on hold. Other techniques can also be used to place the data session on hold. According to the V.92 standard implementation, the remote modem must also be a V.92 standard modem and the modem-on hold feature must be enabled. Details of the modem on hold feature can be found in the V.92 standard cited above.  
      Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.  
      In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.