Universal subscriber communicator module and external software-containing data storage device

• US 20050002344A1
• Filed: 06/06/2003
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quake Global, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quake Global, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Mark Jackson, Garmer, William Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13333 Earth satellites

Abstract

A subscriber communicator module and an external data storage device perform the functions of receiving RF communication signals, converting the received RF signals to received digital output samples and converting digital input samples to RF communication signals for transmission; transforming the digital output samples to digital output data and transforming digital input data to the digital input samples; and processing the digital data in accordance with ORBCOMM data protocols. The module includes at least an RF section for performing the receiving and conversion functions. The external data storage device contains software for implementing performance of the transformation functions and/or the data processing function by one or more sections of the subscriber communicator that are not included in the module. Preferably, the module also includes a transformation section and a control processing section, in which the only communication activities provided in accordance with ORBCOMM data protocols are reports and/or user commands.

Claims

1. A combination of a module and an external data storage device for a subscriber communicator that performs the functions of receiving RF communication signals, converting the received RF signals to received digital output samples and converting digital input samples to RF communication signals for transmission;

transforming the digital output samples to digital output data and transforming digital input data to the digital input samples; and

processing the digital data in accordance with predetermined data protocols to provide a plurality of communication activities, the combination comprising;

a module including at least an RF section for performing the receiving and conversion functions; and

an external data storage device containing software for implementing performance of the transformation functions and/or the data processing function by one or more sections of the subscriber communicator that are not included in the module.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the external data storage device contains software for implementing performance of the signal transformation functions by a transformation section of the subscriber communicator that is not included in the module.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the module includes means for enabling the RF section to be interfaced with the transformation section.

4. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the external data storage device also contains software for implementing performance of the data processing function by a control processing section of the subscriber communicator that is not included in the module.

5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the module further includes a transformation section coupled to the RF section for performing the transformation functions;

wherein the external data storage device contains software for implementing performance of the data processing function by a control processing section of the subscriber communicator that is not included in the module.

6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein the module includes means for enabling the transformation section to be interfaced with the control processing section.

7. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined protocols include ORBCOMM data protocols.

8. A combination according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined protocols further include non-ORBCOMM data protocols.

9. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined protocols include non-ORBCOMM data protocols.

10. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the module includes means for enabling the module to be interfaced with one of the one or more said sections of the subscriber communicator that are not included in the module.

11. A subscriber communicator module that performs the functions of receiving RF communication signals, converting the received RF signals to received digital output samples and converting digital input samples to RF communication signals for transmission;

transforming the digital output samples to digital output data and transforming digital input data to the digital input samples; and

processing the digital data in accordance with ORBCOMM data protocols to provide a plurality of communication activities, the module comprising;

an RF section for performing the receiving and conversion functions; and

a transformation section coupled to the RF section for performing the transformation functions; and

a control processing section coupled to the transformation section for performing the data processing function in accordance with a limited portion of the ORBCOMM protocols;

wherein the communication activities provided by the control processing section in accordance with the limited portion of the ORBCOMM data protocols include at least reports and user commands.

12. A module according to claim 11, further comprising:

a serial data interface; and

means for enabling the serial data interface to be selectively coupled to either (a) the control processing section for use as a user interface or (b) the transformation section for enabling the transformation section to be coupled to an external data processing device that is adapted for performing the processing function in accordance with a more extensive portion of the ORBCOMM data protocols that includes the limited portion and an additional portion of the ORBCOMM data protocols.

13. A module according to claim 12, in combination with an external data storage device that contains software for implementing performance of the data processing function by said external data processing device.

14. A data storage device containing software for implementing performance of a subscriber communicator that performs the functions of receiving RF communication signals, converting the received RF signals to received digital output samples and converting digital input samples to RF communication signals for transmission;

transforming the digital output samples to digital output data and transforming digital input data to the digital input samples; and

processing the digital data in accordance with predetermined data protocols to provide a plurality of communication activities, wherein the subscriber communicator includes a module including at least an RF section for performing the receiving and conversion functions, and wherein the data storage device is external to the subscriber communicator and contains software for implementing performance of the transformation functions and/or the data processing function by one or more sections of the subscriber communicator that are not included in the module.

15. A data storage device according to claim 14, wherein the external data storage device contains software for implementing performance of the signal transformation functions by a transformation section of the subscriber communicator that is not included in the module.

16. A data storage device according to claim 15, wherein the external data storage device also contains software for implementing performance of the data processing function by a control processing section of the subscriber communicator that is not included in the module.

17. A data storage device according to claim 14 for implementing performance of a said subscriber communicator in which the module further includes a transformation section coupled to the RF section for performing the transformation functions,

wherein the external data storage device contains software for implementing performance of the data processing function by a control processing section of the subscriber communicator that is not included in the module.

18. A data storage device according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined protocols include ORBCOMM data protocols.

19. A data storage device according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined protocols further include non-ORBCOMM data protocols.

20. A data storage device according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined protocols include non-ORBCOMM data protocols.