Method and apparatus for a software configurable wireless modem adaptable for multiple modes of operation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A detachable software configurable wireless radio frequency (“
- RF”
) modem for facilitating wireless data communications according to a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a central processing unit (“
CPU”
) operative to download software into said RF modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem comprising;
an antenna for receiving or transmitting an electromagnetic RF signal;
a software configurable RF front end coupled to said antenna for performing RF conversion;
a software configurable baseband processor coupled to said RF front end for performing baseband processing;
a software configurable modem CPU coupled to said baseband processor and said RF front end for performing protocol stack control and for facilitating said RF modem mode change; and
a modem reconfiguration trigger for detecting that at least one predetermined criterion has been met and for generating said trigger signal in response thereto that identifies said selected alternate mode of RF modem operation, said modem CPU operating in response to said downloaded software to reconfigure said RF front end, said baseband processor and said modem CPU so as to cause said RF modem to operate according to said selected alternate mode of operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for a software configurable wireless modem that can be configured using software downloaded by a host computer. The user can select a preferred mode of operation, or mode selection can be done automatically based upon whether one or more predetermined criterion, such as a location of the modem, are met.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A detachable software configurable wireless radio frequency (“
- RF”
) modem for facilitating wireless data communications according to a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a central processing unit (“
CPU”
) operative to download software into said RF modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem comprising;
an antenna for receiving or transmitting an electromagnetic RF signal;
a software configurable RF front end coupled to said antenna for performing RF conversion;
a software configurable baseband processor coupled to said RF front end for performing baseband processing;
a software configurable modem CPU coupled to said baseband processor and said RF front end for performing protocol stack control and for facilitating said RF modem mode change; and
a modem reconfiguration trigger for detecting that at least one predetermined criterion has been met and for generating said trigger signal in response thereto that identifies said selected alternate mode of RF modem operation, said modem CPU operating in response to said downloaded software to reconfigure said RF front end, said baseband processor and said modem CPU so as to cause said RF modem to operate according to said selected alternate mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39)
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16. A detachable software configurable wireless radio frequency (“
- RF”
) modem for facilitating wireless data communications according to a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a central processing unit (“
CPU”
) operative to download software into said RF modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem comprising;
an antenna for receiving or transmitting an electromagnetic RF signal;
a software configurable RF front end coupled to said antenna for performing RF conversion;
a software configurable baseband processor coupled to said RF front end for performing baseband processing;
a software configurable modem CPU coupled to said baseband processor and said RF front end for performing protocol stack control and for facilitating said RF modem mode change;
a modem reconfiguration trigger for detecting that at least one predetermined criterion has been met and for generating said trigger signal in response thereto that identifies said selected alternate mode of RF modem operation; and
a geographic positioning device coupled to said modem CPU for determining the geographic location of said RF modem, said modem CPU operating in response to said downloaded software to reconfigure said RF front end, said baseband processor and said modem CPU so as to cause said RF modem to operate according to said selected alternate mode of operation.
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17. A method for generating a mode change in a detachable and software configurable wireless radio frequency (“
- RF”
) modem from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem having an antenna, a software configurable RF front end, a software configurable baseband processor, and a software configurable central processing unit (“
CPU”
) for providing wireless data communications according to a selected one of a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a CPU, said host computing device operative to download software into said modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change its mode of operation, said method comprising the steps of;
(a) detecting whether at least one predetermined criterion has been met;
(b) scanning a predetermined plurality of RF modem modes of operation to determine one or more modes of operation that satisfy said at least one predetermined criterion;
(c) selecting a mode of operation from said one or more modes of operation determined in step (b);
(d) generating said trigger signal to identify to said host computing device the identity of the mode of operation selected in step (c); and
(e) configuring said RF modem using the software downloaded from said host computing device to cause said RF modem to operate according to said mode of operation selected in step (c).
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26. A method for generating a mode change in a detachable and software configurable wireless radio frequency (“
- RF”
) modem from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem having an antenna, a software configurable RF front end, a software configurable baseband processor, and a software configurable central processing unit (“
CPU”
) for providing wireless data communications according to a selected one of a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a CPU, said host computing device operative to download software into said modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change its mode of operation, said method comprising the steps of;
(a) detecting a request from a user of said RF modem to change said RF modem'"'"'s mode of operation;
(b) providing the user with a list of available alternate modes of operation and enabling the user to select a desired alternative mode of operation;
(c) downloading from said host computing device software to enable said RF modem to be configured according to said selected alternative mode of operation; and
(d) configuring said RF modem using said downloaded software to operate according to said selected alternative mode of operation.
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28. A method for generating a mode change in a detachable and software configurable wireless radio frequency (“
- RF”
) modem from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem having an antenna, a software configurable RF front end, a software configurable baseband processor, and a software configurable central processing unit (“
CPU”
) for providing wireless data communications according to a selected one of a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a CPU, said host computing device operative to download software into said modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change its mode of operation, said method comprising the steps of;
(a) requesting from said modem by said host computing device a list of said plurality of modes of operation;
(b) supplying by said modem to said host computing device said list requested in step (a);
(c) configuring said modem according to a first mode of operation on said list supplied in step (b);
(d) determining if said modem operates according to said mode of operation and if not configuring said modem according to a next mode of operation on said list supplied in step (b) and repeating step (d); and
(e) operating said modem.
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29. A method for generating a mode change in a detachable and software configurable wireless radio frequency (“
- RF”
) modem from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem having an antenna, a software configurable RF front end, a software configurable baseband processor, and a software configurable central processing unit (“
CPU”
) for providing wireless data communications according to a selected one of a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a CPU, said host computing device operative to download software into said modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change its mode of operation, said method comprising the steps of;
(a) determining the geographic location of said modem;
(b) requesting by said modem to said host computing device to be configured according to a mode of operation that is operational within said geographic location of said modem;
(c) generating by said host computing device a list of at least one said mode of operation that is operational within said geographic location of said modem;
(d) configuring said modem according to a first mode on said list generated in step (c);
(e) determining if said modem operates according to said mode of operation and if not configuring said modem according to a next mode of operation on said list generated in step (c) and repeating step (e); and
(f) operating said modem.
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34. A detachable software configurable wireless radio frequency (“
- RF”
) modem for facilitating wireless data communications according to a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a central processing unit (“
CPU”
) operative to download software into said RF modem in response to a trigger signal generated external to said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem comprising;
an antenna for receiving or transmitting an electromagnetic RF signal;
a software configurable RF front end coupled to said antenna for performing RF conversion;
a software configurable baseband processor coupled to said RF front end for performing baseband processing; and
,a software configurable modem CPU coupled to said baseband processor and said RF front end for performing protocol stack control and for facilitating said RF modem mode change, said modem CPU operating in response to said downloaded software to reconfigure said RF front end, said baseband processor and said modem CPU so as to cause said RF modem to operate according to said selected alternate mode of operation.
- RF”
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37. A method for generating a mode change in a detachable and software configurable wireless radio frequency (“
- RF”
) modem from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem having an antenna, a software configurable RF front end, a software configurable baseband processor, and a software configurable central processing unit (“
CPU”
) for providing wireless data communications according to a selected one of a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a CPU, said host computing device operative to download software into said modem in response to a trigger signal generated external to said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change its mode of operation, said method comprising the steps of;
(a) detecting whether at least one predetermined criterion has been met;
(b) scanning a predetermined plurality of RF modem modes of operation to determine one or more modes of operation that satisfy said at least one predetermined criterion;
(c) selecting a mode of operation from said one or more modes of operation determined in step (b);
(d) generating said trigger signal to identify to said host computing device the identity of the mode of operation selected in step (c); and
(e) configuring said RF modem using the software downloaded from said host computing device to cause said RF modem to operate according to said mode of operation selected in step (c).
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Specification