Patents Assigned to Microcom Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6564071
    Abstract: An improved system for the transmission of data over a cellular telephone channel is provided. The system is especially adapted to reduce the cost associated with cellular telephone calls by allowing data transmission only when the channel signal level is greater than a pre-defined value, so as maximize the probability that a transmission will be successful. In addition, the system provides for user transparent reconnection and reestablishment of a dropped link, allowing transmission to continue where dropped without the need to retransmit data already successfully received. As an additional benefit, the system provides a mechanism for call timing and billing so that an estimated bill may be generated based on connection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis A. Bergins, Michael Onorato, Jerry Falk, Richard Carey, Dennis Kloc, Roy Greene
  • Patent number: 6285680
    Abstract: A central site communication system selectively establishes a data connection between a remote system and one of group of host systems as a function of information about the remote system. The communication system can be connected to a digital data network such as via an ISDN or T1 network connection and the remote system can be connected to either the digital data network directly or through a Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) analog connection. The host system can be connect to the communication system via a LAN medium and utilize an IP network and a data tunneling protocol to establish a data connection between the remote system and the host system. The information about the remote system can include the telephone number of the remote system, the telephone number dialed by the remote system to connect with host system, the protocol used by the remote system or the data transmitted by the remote system to the host system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford R. Steinka, Edward J. Meaney
  • Patent number: 6122287
    Abstract: In order to transfer data via a switched network that provides a wide range of network services, the users must establish a circuit or network connection and establish a data link connection. The circuit or network connection provides the physical connection between the users and data link connection provides the protocols and procedures for the transfer of data. Because the network provides a wide range of services, the users, typically by prior agreement, designate a common data link protocol to facilitate the transfer of data. A data link connection will not be established if the users are not using the same data link protocol. A method and apparatus are disclosed which permit a local system to detect the data link protocol used by a remote system. The invention provides a method for detecting the data link protocol used by the remote system when the remote system initiates the data link setup and a method for detecting the data link protocol when the local system initiates the data link setup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Russ Ohanian, Joachim Schubert, Achim Lobbert, Bradford R. Steinka
  • Patent number: 6067318
    Abstract: A parallel interface is provided between a standard parallel port of a computer system and a modem so as to increase the data transfer rate between the two systems without modifying the hardware of the computer system and independently of the application program running on the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Patrick Bailey, Brian J. Copley, Mark J. Freitas
  • Patent number: 5978805
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for synchronizing files stored in memory of two remotely located systems. The system can generate a copy of a source file at the destination location without transferring all the data of the source file. The destination location includes a reference file that can contain similar data as that contained in the source file. The synchronization is accomplished by sending keys (representing reference blocks of data from the reference file) to the source system. At the source system, a portion of each keys called a Feature is compared with portions of source file. If the Features match, a checksum corresponding to the reference block is compared with a check sum corresponding to the source block. If the checksums match, an short message identifying the key and reference block that matched is transmitted to the destination system in order that the reference block can be copied from the reference file in order to build the synchronized file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwayne A. Carson
  • Patent number: 5826198
    Abstract: An improved system for the transmission of data over a cellular telephone channel is provided. The system is especially adapted to reduce the cost associated with cellular telephone calls by allowing data transmission only when the channel signal level is greater than a pre-defined value, so as maximize the probability that a transmission will be successful. In addition, the system provides for user transparent reconnection and reestablishment of a dropped link, allowing transmission to continue where dropped without the need to retransmit data already successfully received. As an additional benefit, the system provides a mechanism for call timing and billing so that an estimated bill may be generated based on connection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis A. Bergins, Michael Onorato, Jerry Falk, Richard Carey, Dennis Kloc, Roy Greene
  • Patent number: 5729573
    Abstract: parallel interface is provided between a standard parallel port of a computer system and a modem so as to increase the data transfer rate between the two systems without modifying the hardware of the computer system and independently of the application program running on the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Patrick Bailey, Brian J. Copley, Mark J. Freitas
  • Patent number: 5644593
    Abstract: A parallel interface is provided between a standard parallel port of a computer system and a modem so as to increase the data transfer rate between the two systems without modifying the hardware of the computer system and independently of the application program running on the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Patrick Bailey, Brian J. Copley, Mark J. Freitas
  • Patent number: 5577033
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for using switched telecommunications services to emulate a local area network (LAN) medium. The method and apparatus convert a public switched network or an equivalent private network into a LAN cabling method for connecting distant devices using the same communications software as used in traditionally wired LANs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Y. Chang, David B. Richardson, Bennett C. Baker
  • Patent number: 5539745
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing the flow of repetitive broadcast datagrams over a communication link between two local area networks while still maintaining reception of all of the repetitive broadcast datagrams generated and intended by one of the local area networks for transmission to the other local area network over the communication link. The reduction, which can be to zero, occurs for intermittent periods of time having various durations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Y. Chang, David B. Richardson, Bennett C. Baker
  • Patent number: 5481562
    Abstract: A multi-mode modem and a method of transmitting data utilizing the multi-mode modem are disclosed in which different modes of operation may be automatically selected by sending multiple link requests to a receiving modem in order to provide either optimized or non-optimized data transmission according to line conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Pearson, Nathan R. Melhorn, Michael F. Onarato, Craig A. Richards
  • Patent number: 5251213
    Abstract: A multiport source routing token ring bridge is provided which permits a single local area network bridge to interconnect to multiple remote bridges without limitations on the number of rings and bridges interspersed between a data packet's source and its intended destination. The bridge receives a packet and then scans the packet for ring-in information which matches the ring to which the bridge is attached. If this match is not successful, then the packet is not passed to the software and the address recognize and frame copy bits at the end of the packet are not set. If the match is successful, then the bridge number and next ring-in (or ring-out) segment information from the packet are used as addresses to a static RAM array. The array is preprogrammed with all valid bridge number and ring-out combinations which may be accessed by the multiport source routing bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary B. Videlock, Russell C. Gocht, Tom P. Gloria, Douglas Wainer
  • Patent number: 5241565
    Abstract: A telecommunications system intermittently checks and, if necessary, adjusts the power level of the transmitted data as a function of the transmission characteristics of the transmission line so as to optimize transmission performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Kloc, Richard A. Carey
  • Patent number: 5191583
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for a data communications system in which data packets are transmitted between two data terminal units wherein idle packets are transmitted whenever there is no data packet to send and such idle packets are utilized for detecting transmission errors in order to optimize data transmission efficiency by continually increasing, decreasing or leaving unchanged the size of data packets as a function of transmission errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Pearson, Nathan R. Melhorn, Michael F. Onarato, Craig A. Richards
  • Patent number: 5179555
    Abstract: A bridge/router for use in bridging and routing data among one or more local area networks and a wide area network is disclosed. The bridge/router utilizes a data compressor adapted to compress data in frames adding an end of compression marker after each frame. The bridge/router provides data transmission speeds as fast as 2.048 Mbps and includes means for inhibiting the end of compression marker, while generating a data structure with each frame which is compressed with the frame of data. The data structure includes information representing the number of bytes of raw data in the corresponding frame so that on decompression the decompresser knows the number of bytes to provide in the resulting frame of decompressed data, thus avoiding the need for the end of compression marker. By inhibiting the marker compression is performed with greater efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Videlock, Mark J. Freitas, Philip P. Gailinas
  • Patent number: 5136580
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for learning and filtering destination and source addresses in a local area network (LAN) system is provided to facilitate the transfer of information packets from one local area network to another. The apparatus provides a link between two (or more) remotely located LANS through the use of a LAN bridge. The apparatus has a LAN controller interface, a microprocessor, a state machine and one or more content addressable memories which function to monitor an information packet received from the LAN. One such apparatus is connected to each of the LANs to be interfaced and each of these apparatus to each other in order to communicate messages between the LANs. Upon detection of an information packet, the apparatus examines both the source and destination addresses of the packet. The source address is compared to a dynamically generated table of source addresses and then compared to the incoming destination address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary B. Videlock, Russell C. Gocht, AnneMarie Freitas, Mark J. Freitas
  • Patent number: 5027376
    Abstract: Disclosed is a data compressing modem for connection to a decompressing modem over communication lines. The compressing modem receives an input data stream, and each character in the data stream is recodified with a compressed character code, the length of which is dependent on the frequency of the character in the data stream. A frequency table is maintained so that changes in the relative frequency of characters in the data stream will be recognized by the compressing modem and the compressed character codes representing such characters will be exchanged accordingly. A decompressing modem, which is connected over communication lines to the compressing modem, processes the compressed character code in a reverse order from the manner in which the compresing modem processing the codes. The decompressing modem also maintains a relative frequency table and as the relative frequencies of the various characters change, the actual characters represented by the compression codes must also change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Microcom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Friedman, Nathan Melhorn