System for transmitting and receiving combination of compressed digital information and embedded strobe bit between computer and external device through parallel printer port of computer

Abstract

A unique combination of software and hardware provides any computer with a system for high speed digital data communications using the computer's standard parallel printer port. The disclosed embodiment of the invention allows any computer with a standard parallel printer port to play or record digital audio sound allowing the computer to serve as a platform for multimedia presentations.

We claim the following invention:  
     
       1. Apparatus for transmitting and receiving digital information through a parallel printer port, comprising: 
       a computer with a parallel printer port;  
       an external communications device connected to said computer through said parallel printer port, said external communications device transmits and receives digital information to and from said computer;  
       compressing means for compressing said digital information into compressed digital information;  
       an embedded strobe bit combined with said compressed digital information, said embedded strobe further comprises one bit of an eight bit data port of said parallel printer port and said compressed digital information comprises seven bits of said eight bit data port of said parallel printer port;  
       means for transmitting and receiving said combination of said compressed digital information and said embedded strobe bit between said computer and said external communications device through said parallel printer port; and  
       decompressing means for decompressing said compressed digital information.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim  1  wherein said compressing means and said decompressing means use ADPCM technique. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim  1  further comprising determining means for determining the maximum transmission speed of said parallel printer port. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim  1  further comprising the block move instruction for multiple-byte transfers of digital information of said computer. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim  1  further comprising storage medium of said computer used to store the digital information on said computer. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus for transmitting and receiving digital information through a parallel printer port, comprising: 
       a computer with a parallel printer port;  
       an external communications device connected to said computer through said parallel printer port;  
       embedding means for embedding an embedded strobe bit, said embedded strobe further comprises one bit of an eight bit data port of said parallel printer port;  
       compressing means for compressing digital information into compressed digital information, said compressed digital information further comprises seven bits of said eight bit data port of said parallel printer port;  
       combining means for combining said embedded strobe bit and said compressed digital information;  
       means for transmitting and receiving said combination of said compressed digital information and said embedded strobe bit between said computer and said external communications device through said parallel printer port; and  
       decompressing means for decompressing said compressed digital information.  
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim  6  wherein said compressing means and said decompressing means use ADPCM technique. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim  6  further comprising determining means for determining the maximum transmission speed of said parallel printer port. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim  6  further comprising block move means for multiple-byte transfers of digital information of said computer. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim  6  further comprising storage means for storing the digital information on said computer. 
     
     
       11. A method for transmitting and receiving digital information through a parallel printer port, comprising the steps of: 
       compressing digital information into compressed digital information, said compressed digital information further comprises seven bits of an eight bit data port of a parallel printer port;  
       combining said compressed digital information with an embedded strobe bit, said embedded strobe further comprises one bit of said eight bit data port of said parallel printer port;  
       transmitting and receiving the combination of said compressed digital information and said embedded strobe bit between a computer and an external communications device through said parallel printer port; and  
       decompressing said compressed digital information into said digital information.  
     
     
       12. The method of claim  11  wherein said step of compressing and said step of decompressing use ADPCM technique. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim  11  further comprising the step of determining the maximum transmission speed of said parallel printer port. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim  11  further comprising the step of moving multiple-byte digital information using block move instruction of said computer. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim  11  further comprising the step of storing the digital information on a storage medium on said computer. 
     
     
       16. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for transmitting and receiving digital information through a parallel printer port, said method steps comprising the following steps: 
       compressing digital information into compressed digital information, said compressed digital information further comprises seven bits of an eight bit data port of a parallel printer port;  
       combining said compressed digital information with an embedded strobe bit, said embedded strobe further comprises one bit of said eight bit data port of said parallel printer port;  
       transmitting and receiving the combination of said compressed digital information and said embedded strobe bit between a computer and an external communications device through said parallel printer port; and  
       decompressing said compressed digital information into said digital information.  
     
     
       17. The program storage device of claim  16  wherein said step of compressing and said step of decompressing use ADPCM technique. 
     
     
       18. The program storage device of claim  16  further comprising the step of determining the maximum transmission speed of said parallel printer port. 
     
     
       19. The program storage device of claim  16  further comprising the step of moving multiple-byte digital information using the block move instruction of said computer. 
     
     
       20. The program storage device of claim  16  further comprising the step of storing said digital information on a storage medium on said computer. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus that transfers digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         a parallel printer interface that comprises a data port interface and a status port interface wherein said data port interface comprises a plurality of wires and said status port interface comprises a plurality of wires; and  
       
       
         a strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface, said strobe clocks digital information transferred through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim  21  that further comprises a compression/decompression function that compresses and decompresses the digital information. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim  22  wherein said compression/decompression function utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       24. A method that transfers digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         clocking digital information with a strobe, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface and a status port interface wherein said data port interface comprises a plurality of wires and said status port interface comprises a plurality of wires, said strobe comprises one wire of said data port interface; and  
       
       
         transferring digital information through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       25. The method of claim  24  that further comprises a compression/decompression function that compresses and decompresses the digital information. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim  25  wherein said compression/decompression function utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       27. An system that transfers digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         a parallel printer interface that comprises a data port interface and a status port interface wherein said data port interface comprises a plurality of wires and said status port interface comprises a plurality of wires; and  
       
       
         a strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface, said strobe clocks digital information transferred through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       28. The system of claim  27  that further comprises a compression/decompression function that compresses and decompresses the digital information. 
     
     
       29. The system of claim  28  wherein said compression/decompression function utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       30. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method that transfers digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         clocking digital information with a strobe, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface and a status port interface wherein said data port interface comprises a plurality of wires and said status port interface comprises a plurality of wires, said strobe comprises one wire of said data port interface; and  
       
       
         transferring digital information through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       31. The program storage device of claim  30  that further comprises a compression/decompression function that compresses and decompresses the digital information. 
     
     
       32. The program storage device of claim  31  wherein said compression/decompression function utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       33. A method that provides digital information with the ability to transfer through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         providing a parallel printer interface that comprises a data port interface and a status port interface wherein said data port interface comprises a plurality of wires and said status port interface comprises a plurality of wires; and  
       
       
         providing a strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface; said strobe clocks digital information transferred through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       34. The method of claim  33  that further comprises a compression/decompression function that compresses and decompresses the digital information. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim  34  wherein said compression/decompression function utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       36. A communications device that is external to a computer that transfers digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         a digital interface circuit that comprises a data interface circuit and a status transmit circuit, said digital interface circuit couples to a parallel printer interface, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface that comprises a plurality of wires and a status port interface that comprises a plurality of wires;  
       
       
         a strobe detect circuit coupled to said digital interface circuit that detects a strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface; and  
       
       
         a control logic circuit coupled to said strobe detect circuit and said digital interface circuit, said control logic circuit controls the transferring of digital information through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       37. The communications device of claim  36  further comprising a compression/decompression circuit coupled to said control logic circuit wherein said compression/decompression circuit compresses and decompresses digital information. 
     
     
       38. The communications device of claim  37  wherein said compression/decompression circuit utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       39. A method that uses a communications device that is external to a computer to transfer digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         clocking digital information with a strobe;  
       
       
         transferring digital information through a parallel printer interface coupled to a digital interface circuit, said digital interface circuit comprises a data interface circuit and a status transmit circuit, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface that comprises a plurality of wires and a status port interface that comprises a plurality of wires;  
       
       
         detecting said strobe with a strobe detect circuit coupled to said digital interface circuit, said strobe comprises one wire of said data port interface; and  
       
       
         controlling the transferring of said digital information through said parallel printer interface with a control logic circuit coupled to said strobe detect circuit and said digital interface circuit. 
       
     
     
       40. The method of claim  39  further comprising a compression/decompression circuit coupled to said control logic circuit wherein said compression/decompression circuit compresses and decompresses the digital information. 
     
     
       41. The method of claim  40  wherein said compression/decompression circuit utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       42. A system that uses a communications device that is external to a computer that transfers digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         a digital interface circuit that comprises a data interface circuit and a status transmit circuit, said digital interface circuit couples to a parallel printer interface, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface that comprises a plurality of wires and a status port interface that comprises a plurality of wires;  
       
       
         a strobe detect circuit coupled to said digital interface circuit that detects a strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface; and  
       
       
         a control logic circuit coupled to said strobe detect circuit and said digital interface circuit, said control logic circuit controls the transferring of digital information through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       43. The system of claim  42  further comprising a compression/decompression circuit coupled to said control logic circuit wherein said compression/decompression circuit compresses and decompresses digital information. 
     
     
       44. The system of claim  43  wherein said compression/decompression circuit utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       45. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method that uses a communications device that is external to a computer to transfer digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         clocking digital information with a strobe;  
       
       
         transferring digital information through a parallel printer interface coupled to a digital interface circuit, said digital interface circuit comprises a data interface circuit and a status transmit circuit, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface that comprises a plurality of wires and a status port interface that comprises a plurality of wires;  
       
       
         detecting said strobe with a strobe detect circuit coupled to said digital interface circuit, said strobe comprises one wire of said data port interface; and  
       
       
         controlling the transferring of said digital information through said parallel printer interface with a control logic circuit coupled to said strobe detect circuit and said digital interface circuit. 
       
     
     
       46. The program storage device of claim  45  further comprising a compression/decompression circuit coupled to said control logic circuit wherein said compression/decompression circuit compresses and decompresses digital information. 
     
     
       47. The program storage device of claim  46  wherein said compression/decompression circuit utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       48. A method that provides a communications device that is external to a computer with the ability to transfer digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         providing a digital interface circuit that comprises a data interface circuit and a status transmit circuit, said digital interface circuit couples to a parallel printer interface, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface that comprises a plurality of wires and a status port interface that comprises a plurality of wires;  
       
       
         providing a strobe detect circuit coupled to said digital interface circuit that detects a strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface; and  
       
       
         coupling a control logic circuit coupled to said strobe detect circuit and said digital interface circuit, said control logic circuit controls the transferring of digital information through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       49. The method of claim  48  further comprising a compression/decompression circuit coupled to said control logic circuit wherein said compression/decompression circuit compresses and decompresses digital information. 
     
     
       50. The method of claim  49  wherein said compression/decompression circuit utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       51. An apparatus that transfers digital information through parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         a parallel printer interface that comprises a data port interface and a status port interface wherein said data port interface comprises a plurality of wires and said status port interface comprises a plurality of wires; and  
       
       
         an embedded strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface, said strobe clocks digital information transferred through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       52. The apparatus of claim  51  that further comprises a compression/decompression function that compresses and decompresses the digital information. 
     
     
       53. The apparatus of claim  52  wherein said compression/decompression function utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       54. A method that transfers digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         clocking digital information with an embedded strobe, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface and a status port interface wherein said data port interface comprises a plurality of wires and said status port interface comprises a plurality of wires, said strobe comprises one wire of said data port interface; and  
       
       
         transferring digital information through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       55. The method of claim  54  that further comprises a compression/decompression function that compresses and decompresses the digital information. 
     
     
       56. The method of claim  55  wherein said compression/decompression function utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       57. A system that transfers digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         a parallel printer interface that comprises a data port interface and a status port interface wherein said data port interface comprises a plurality of wires and said status port interface comprises a plurality of wires; and  
       
       
         an embedded strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface, said strobe clocks digital information transferred through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       58. The system of claim  57  that further comprises a compression/decompression function that compresses and decompresses the digital information. 
     
     
       59. The system of claim  58  wherein said compression/decompression function utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       60. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method that transfers digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         clocking digital information with an embedded strobe, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface and a status port interface wherein said data port interface comprises a plurality of wires and said status port interface comprises a plurality of wires, said strobe comprises one wire of said data port interface; and  
       
       
         transferring digital information through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       61. The program storage device of claim  60  that further comprises a compression/decompression function that compresses and decompresses the digital information. 
     
     
       62. The program storage device of claim  61  wherein said compression/decompression function utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique. 
     
     
       63. A method that provides digital information with the ability to transfer through a parallel printer interface, comprising: 
       
         providing a parallel printer interface that comprises a data port interface and a status port interface wherein said data port interface comprises a plurality of wires and said status port interface comprises a plurality of wires; and  
       
       
         providing an embedded strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface; said strobe clocks digital information transferred through said parallel printer interface. 
       
     
     
       64. The method of claim  63  that further comprises a compression/decompression function that compresses and decompresses the digital information. 
     
     
       65. The method of claim  64  wherein said compression/decompression function utilizes the ADPCM data compression technique.