Steven J Wagner

US Patent:

54636167, Oct 31, 1995

Filed:

Jun 21, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/263266

Inventors:

Robert J. Kruse - Seattle WA
Harmon F. Law - Tacoma WA
Steven R. Wagner - Kent WA

Assignee:

Advanced Protocol Systems, Inc. - Seattle WA

International Classification:

H04J 300
H04L 514
H04M 1106

US Classification:

370 24

Abstract:

Full-duplex, concurrent voice and non-voice communication over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) is maintained by a communication interface apparatus. A voice only connection is established between two sites initially. Concurrent voice/non-voice connection then is established by pressing an engage button on the communication interface apparatus at each site. Voice communication is temporarily lost, while the connection changes from a phone-to-phone voice-only link to an interface-to-interface voice/non-voice data link. The communication interface apparatus includes a digital signal processor for converting and compressing digital voice data into a voice data packet, a modem for maintaining communication over the PSTN and a micro-controller for managing the establishment and maintenance of concurrent voice and non-voice data communication. The micro-controller monitors non-voice data availability to and from a local computer or gaming device, voice data availability to and from the digital signal processor and voice packet and non-voice data packet availability to and from the modem. In one embodiment, non-voice data is transmitted at a higher priority.