Dual mode phone line interface

Abstract

The invention includes a first switch and a second switch serially connected between a telephone network line and a local telephone line which can be selectively connected to alternately either an auto answer modem or a human answer telephone set. A control register is associated with the local telephone line, having data contents representing whether the local telephone line is connected to the auto answer modem or alternately to the human answer telephone set. A billing delay element has an output connected to a control input of the first switch, for delaying the closure of the first switch for a predetermined interval after an answer tone is received over the telephone network line when the control register, which is connected to the control input of the first switch, indicates that the auto answer modem is connected to the local telephone line. A tone overload detector has an input connected to the local telephone line and an output connected to the control input of the first switch, for interrupting the connection between the local telephone line and the telephone network line if tones generated on the local telephone line have a voltage greater than a predetermined amplitude when the control register, indicates that the auto answer modem is connected to the local telephone line. The control register controls the closure of the first switch when the contents of the register indicate that the local telephone line is connected to the human answer telephone set. In this manner, either the auto answer data operations or alternately the human voice signals can be selectively transmitted.