US6314475B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for monitoring, controlling and configuring local communication devices
Assignee: Synaptics Inc
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Filing: 1998-11-16
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Granted: 2001-11-06
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Expires: 2018-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A communication system for monitoring and/or controlling communication parameters of a communication device. The communication system monitors a communication channel that is created when the communication device connects to a network, controls the communication device as it operates on the network, and configures the communication device. The communication device is commonly a modem and is communicatively coupled to the network to carry out ongoing communications between the modem and the network through the communication channel. Further, a software module is associated with the modem, and the software module accesses the internal settings of the modem via the communication channel (if necessary) and performs operations such as monitoring, controlling, and configuring the modem (or other communication device) using the internal settings of the modem.
Inventors
- 👤 Zeev Collin
- 👤 Tal Tamir
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L43/00; H04L43/08; H04L43/0805; H04L43/0817; G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411; H04L41/00; H04L41/08; H04L41/0803; H04L41/0813; H04L41/082; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/06; H04L41/02; H04L41/0213; H04L41/0246; H04L41/0253; H04L43/02; H04L43/022; H04L43/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A computer system comprising: a first communication device; an operating system having a communication driver for communication with said first communication device; a communication application software for controlling said first communication device via said communication driver; and a diagnostics software including: a diagnostics driver; a diagnostics dynamic link library; and a diagnostics application programming interface; wherein said diagnostics software is capable of monitoring, controlling or configuring at least one parameter of said first communication device while said first communication device is in communication with a second communication device over a communication channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A computer system comprising: a first communication device; an operating system having a communication driver for communication with said first communication device; a communication application software for controlling said first communication device via said communication driver; and a diagnostics software including: a diagnostics driver; a diagnostics dynamic link library; and a diagnostics application programming interface; wherein said diagnostics software is capable of monitoring, controlling or configuring at least one parameter of said first communication device while said first communication device is in communication with a second communication device over a communication channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1 , wherein said communication device is a communication software.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 2 , wherein said communication software is a software modem.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1 , wherein said communication device is a hardware modem.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 1 , wherein said diagnostics software interfaces with said communication driver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 1 , wherein said diagnostics software interfaces with said communication device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1 , wherein said communication device is a DSL modem.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 1 further comprising a diagnostics application software in communication with said diagnostics software.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 1 , wherein said diagnostics software modifies said at least one parameter to improve communication performance over said communication channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
144 words
A communication method of using a first communication device in a computer system, said computer system having a communication application software, a communication driver and a communication device diagnostics software for communication with said first communication device, said method comprising the steps of: placing a communication device diagnostics application in communication with said diagnostics software, said diagnostics software including a diagnostics driver, a diagnostics dynamic link library and a diagnostics application programming interface; controlling said first communication device using said communication application software in communication with said communication driver; establishing a connection between said first communication device and a second communication device over a communication channel; diagnosing said first communication device via said diagnostics application; wherein said first communication device includes at least one parameter, and wherein said diagnosing step includes monitoring, controlling or configuring said at least one parameter via said diagnostics software.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
A communication method of using a first communication device in a computer system, said computer system having a communication application software, a communication driver and a communication device diagnostics software for communication with said first communication device, said method comprising the steps of: placing a communication device diagnostics application in communication with said diagnostics software, said diagnostics software including a diagnostics driver, a diagnostics dynamic link library and a diagnostics application programming interface; controlling said first communication device using said communication application software in communication with said communication driver; establishing a connection between said first communication device and a second communication device over a communication channel; diagnosing said first communication device via said diagnostics application; wherein said first communication device includes at least one parameter, and wherein said diagnosing step includes monitoring, controlling or configuring said at least one parameter via said diagnostics software.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein at least a part of said connection is established via a telephone line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein at least a part of said connection is established via a peer-to-peer network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein at least a part of said connection is established via the Internet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said communication device is a modem.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein said modem is a software modem.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said communication device is a DSL modem.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said diagnostics application software modifies said at least one parameter to improve communication performance over said communication channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
84 words
A diagnostics software for use in a computer system, said computer system including a first communication device and an operating system having a communication driver for said communication device, said diagnostics software comprising: a diagnostics driver; a diagnostics dynamic link library; and a diagnostics application programming interface; wherein said diagnostics software is capable of monitoring, controlling or configuring at least one parameter of said first communication device while said first communication device is in communication with a second communication device over a communication channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
84 words
A diagnostics software for use in a computer system, said computer system including a first communication device and an operating system having a communication driver for said communication device, said diagnostics software comprising: a diagnostics driver; a diagnostics dynamic link library; and a diagnostics application programming interface; wherein said diagnostics software is capable of monitoring, controlling or configuring at least one parameter of said first communication device while said first communication device is in communication with a second communication device over a communication channel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The diagnostics software of claim 18 , wherein said communication device is a communication software.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The diagnostics software of claim 19 , wherein said communication software is a software modem.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The diagnostics software of claim 18 , wherein said communication device is a hardware modem.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The diagnostics software of claim 18 , wherein said diagnostics driver interfaces with said communication driver.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The diagnostics software of claim 18 , wherein said diagnostics driver interfaces with said communication device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The diagnostics software of claim 18 , wherein said communication device is a DSL modem.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The diagnostics software of claim 18 , wherein said communication device is in communication with a remote communication device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The diagnostics software of claim 18 further comprising a diagnostics application software in communication with said diagnostics application programming interface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The diagnostics software of claim 18 , wherein said diagnostics software modifies said at least one parameter to improve communication performance over said communication channel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
95 words
A communication system for use in a computer system including an operating system having a communication driver for communication with said communication system, said communication system comprising: a port driver for communication with said communication driver; a controller module; a datapump module; a hardware interface for interfacing with a communication line; and a diagnostics module; wherein said communication system is in communication with a remote device via said communication line, and wherein said diagnostics module is capable of monitoring, controlling or configuring said port driver, said controller module, said datapump module or said hardware interface.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
95 words
A communication system for use in a computer system including an operating system having a communication driver for communication with said communication system, said communication system comprising: a port driver for communication with said communication driver; a controller module; a datapump module; a hardware interface for interfacing with a communication line; and a diagnostics module; wherein said communication system is in communication with a remote device via said communication line, and wherein said diagnostics module is capable of monitoring, controlling or configuring said port driver, said controller module, said datapump module or said hardware interface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The communication system of claim 28 wherein said communication system is a software modem.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The communication system of claim 28 , wherein said communication device is a DSL modem.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communication system of claim 28 , wherein said diagnostics module is capable of interfacing with a diagnostics application software.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The communication system of claim 28 , wherein said diagnostics module modifies said at least one parameter to improve communication performance over said communication channel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-11-05 | 2005-05-07 | 2005-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-11-05 | 2009-05-07 | 2009-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-11-05 | 2013-05-07 | 2013-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |