Method of coupling wireless portable communications device to electronic mail server by public wireless communications network when out of communication with private wireless communications network

• US 20050190042A1
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property
• Inventors: Link, Charles M. II, Griffith, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 7,183,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14

Abstract

A method of coupling a wireless portable communications device (PCD) to an electronic mail server network by way of a public wireless communications network is disclosed. The PCD is normally in communication with the electronic mail server network by way of a private wireless communications network, and is coupled to the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network when the PCD is out of communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the private wireless communications network. In particular, the PCD is coupled to the public wireless communications network, and is caused to leave an electronic mail server network mode and enter a public wireless communications network mode. A network connection is established with the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network, and communication with the electronic mail server network is entered into by way of the public wireless communications network.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A method of coupling a portable communications device (PCD) to an electronic mail server network by way of a public wireless communications network, the PCD normally in communication with the electronic mail server network by way of a private wireless communications network, the PCD being coupled to the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network when the PCD is out of communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the private wireless communications network, the method comprising:

coupling the PCD to the public wireless communications network;

causing the PCD to leave an electronic mail server network mode and enter a public wireless communications network mode;

establishing a network connection with the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network; and

entering into communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network.

9. The method of claim 8 for coupling a wireless electronic mail device to an electronic mail server network by way of a public wireless communications network, the wireless electronic mail device normally in communication with the electronic mail server network by way of a private wireless communications network, the wireless electronic mail device being coupled to the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network when the wireless electronic mail device is out of communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the private wireless communications network, the method comprising:

coupling the wireless electronic mail device to the public wireless communications network;

causing the wireless electronic mail device to leave an electronic mail server network mode and enter a public wireless communications network mode;

establishing a network connection with the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network; and

entering into communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the wireless electronic mail device is a two-way wireless electronic mail device, and wherein entering into communication comprises entering into two-way communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

de-coupling the PCD from the public wireless communications network upon ending communication therewith; and

causing the PCD to leave the public wireless communications network mode and enter the electronic mail server network mode.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the PCD has a serial port, wherein coupling the PCD to the public wireless communications network comprises:

placing the PCD into a cradle having a serial port connector and a network connector so that the serial port of the wireless electronic mail device is coupled with the serial port connector of the cradle; and

coupling the network connector of the cradle to the public wireless communications network,

and wherein de-coupling the PCD from the public wireless communications network comprises removing the PCD from the cradle.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the PCD has a serial port, and wherein coupling the PCD to the public wireless communications network comprises:

placing the PCD into a cradle having a serial port connector and a network connector so that the serial port of the PCD is coupled with the serial port connector of the cradle; and

coupling the network connector of the cradle to the public wireless communications network.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein causing the PCD to enter the public wireless communications network mode comprises causing the PCD to gain the attention of and establish control over a wireless network communications device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein causing the PCD to enter the public wireless communications network mode comprises causing the PCD to gain the attention of and establish control over a wireless network interface card.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein coupling the PCD to the public wireless communications network comprises coupling the PCD to a public cellular communications network.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein establishing the network connection comprises establishing a network connection with a base station of the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein entering into communication comprises entering into two-way communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network to send and receive information.

19. A method of coupling a portable communications device (PCD) to an electronic mail server network by way of a public wireless communications network, the PCD normally in communication with the electronic mail server network by way of a private wireless communications network, the PCD having a serial port and being coupled to the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network when the PCD is out of communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the private wireless communications network, the method comprising:

placing the PCD into a cradle having a serial port connector and a network connector so that the serial port of the PCD is coupled with the serial port connector of the cradle;

coupling the network connector of the cradle to the public wireless communications network;

causing the PCD to leave an electronic mail server network mode and enter a public wireless communications network mode;

establishing a network connection with the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network; and

entering into communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the cradle and the public wireless communications network.

20. The method of claim 19 for coupling a wireless electronic mail device to an electronic mail server network by way of a public wireless communications network, the wireless electronic mail device normally in communication with the electronic mail server network by way of a private wireless communications network, the wireless electronic mail device having a serial port and being coupled to the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network when the wireless electronic mail device is out of communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the private wireless communications network, the method comprising:

placing the wireless electronic mail device into a cradle having a serial port connector and a network connector so that the serial port of the wireless electronic mail device is coupled with the serial port connector of the cradle;

coupling the network connector of the cradle to the public wireless communications network;

causing the wireless electronic mail device to leave an electronic mail server network mode and enter a public wireless communications network mode;

establishing a network connection with the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network; and

entering into communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the wireless electronic mail device is a two-way wireless electronic mail device, and wherein entering into communication comprises entering into two-way communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

de-coupling the PCD from the public wireless communications network upon ending communication therewith; and

causing the PCD to leave the public wireless communications network mode and enter the electronic mail server network mode.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein de-coupling the PCD from the public wireless communications network comprises removing the PCD from the cradle.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein causing the PCD to enter the public wireless communications network mode comprises causing the PCD to gain the attention of and establish control over a wireless network communications device.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein causing the PCD to enter the public wireless communications network mode comprises causing the PCD to gain the attention of and establish control over a member of a group consisting of a wireless modem and a wireless network interface card.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein coupling the network connector of the cradle to the public wireless communications network comprises coupling the network connector of the cradle to a public cellular communications network.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein entering into communication comprises entering into two-way communication with the electronic mail server network by way of the public wireless communications network to send and receive information.