Modem and communications control selection

Abstract

A simple, flexible and easy-to-use user interface and control mechanism for remote communication supports multiple modems or phone lines being connected and disconnected from a computing or 'info-tainment' apparatus. This facilitates remote communications on different types of communications lines and from different locations. The user selects among modems, phone lines or other communication devices by simply physically connecting or disconnecting them from the computer, which is automatically detected. The default response is to select the newly connected modem or line as the currently active communication device, or to activate any other currently connected communication device when the active device is disconnected. A modem and location selection menu pops up giving the user a chance either to confirm or alter this selection. Application software uses an operating system interface to access a communication network via the selected device, which allows the modem selection to apply to all applications software. Also, a communication device's parameters are set up based on the user selecting a 'location' parameter, whose value indicates an area within which the apparatus is coupled to the communication network. The modem initialization string, access prefix, account code, phone number to dial and/or whether an area code is dialed can be altered based on how the user sets up the current location--the location 'cellular' can select a modem initialization string for an appropriate baud-rate range and protocol and can alter the access number of the communication service provider to dial into cellular-capable modems.