Automatic digital strapping apparatus for data modems

Claim 1

A data modem, comprising: an option microprocessor for use in establishing a configuration of said modem; input means, coupled to said option microprocessor and and coupled to a control panel for receiving input signals from said control panel and for providing said input signals to said option microprocessor; a nonvolatile alterable memory, coupled to said option microprocessor, for storing information for use by said option microprocessor in establishing a custom modem configuration; a fixed read only memory, coupled to said option processor, for permanently storing information for use by said option microprocessor in establishing a default modem configuration; a first random access memory coupled to said option microprocessor for storing one of said modem configurations; loading means, coupled to said option microprocessor and responsive to said input means, for loading information stored in one of said fixed read only memory and said nonvolatile alterable memory into said random access memory to establish information in said first random access memory to define said modem configuration, said loading means including means for first attempting to load said custom configuration information from said nonvolatile memory and in the absence of configuration information in said nonvolatile memory for attempting to load said default modem configuration information from said fixed read only memory; keying means, coupled to said input means, for receiving a key code and comparing said key code to a predetermined code prior to accepting input from said control panel, and further including means for inhibiting said loading means from accepting input from said control panel if said key code is different than said predetermined code; modem configuring means, coupled to said random access memory, for configuring said modem in response to information stored in said random access memory; a second random access memory; a plurality of control microprocessors for controlling a corresponding plurality of modem functions, each of said control microprocessors coupled to said second random access memory; means for transferring portions of said modem configuration information from said first random access memory to said second random access memory for use by said plurality of control microprocessors; and display means situated on an outer surface of said modem, for displaying information indicative of the configuration of said modem.