Abstract: System and method for receiving facsimile calls and data modem calls with a single telephone line. An incoming call is monitored for a first period of time following receipt of the call to identify the call as either a facsimile call or a data modem call, and a handshaking procedure is initiated if the call is identified. In the event that the call is not identified, a data modem handshaking procedure is initiated, and if that procedure is not successful, the call is assumed to be a facsimile transmission, and a facsimile handshaking procedure is initiated. When the type of call has been identified, appropriate FAX or data communications software is automatically selected for processing the particular type of call.

Abstract: In the present invention, analog voice information is sampled at a first sampling rate, during periods when voice information is to be transmitted at a frequency which provides a digitized voice rate equal to the transmission rate capability of the transmission channel. During periods when both voice and data are to be transmitted, the analog voice information is sampled at a second sampling rate less than the first sampling rate, thus allowing the merged voice and data information to have a total digitized transmission rate equal to the transmission rate capability of the transmission channel.