Method and mobile device for operating in different data transfer modes

• US 20070077964A1
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Fu, Runbo, Morris, Stewart, Llanos, Edwin, Jian, Ming
• Granted Patent: US 7,346,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0293 having a sub-controller with a low clock frequency switching on and off a main controller with a high clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Various embodiments are described for data communication between a host device and a mobile communication device having two processors. In a first mode of operation, data communication occurs between the host device and a main processor of the mobile device. In a second mode of operation, data communication occurs between the host device and a communications processor of the mobile device. Some of the embodiments also implement power transfer from the host device to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a) a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device;

b) a wireless communication unit connected to the main processor, the wireless communication unit having a communication processor and being adapted to send and receive electromagnetic waves corresponding to wireless communication data;

c) a mobile connector port connectable to a host device, the mobile connector port including data lines to provide data communication between the mobile wireless communication device and the host device; and

,

d) a switching unit connected to the mobile connector port, the main processor and the wireless communication unit, the switching unit including a data switch, wherein the data switch routes data between the host device and the main processor during a normal operation mode, and the data switch routes data between the host device and the wireless communication unit during a wireless modem operation mode.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit includes:

e) a data and power module that manages data transfer and supply power for the wireless communication unit, the data and power module being connected to the data switch for transferring the wireless communication data; and

,

f) a communication subsystem connected to the data and power module for transferring the wireless communication data and converting between the wireless communication data and the corresponding electromagnetic waves,

wherein both the data and power module and the communication processor are connected to the main processor for coordinating transitions between the normal and wireless modem operation modes.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication processor is connected to the data switch for transfer of the wireless communication data, the communication processor also being connected to the main processor for coordinating transitions between the normal and wireless modem operation modes, and wherein the wireless communication unit includes a communication subsystem for transfer of the wireless communication data and conversion between the wireless communication data and the corresponding electromagnetic waves, the communication subsystem being controlled by the communication processor.

4. The mobile communication devices of claim 1, wherein the mobile connector port further includes a supply line to receive a charging current from the host device, the switching unit further includes a power indication switch, and the mobile communication device further includes a battery interface connected to the supply line, and an internal battery connected to the battery interface to provide power to the mobile communication device.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 4, wherein during both the normal and wireless modem operation modes, the supply line can provide the charging current to the internal battery for charging when the mobile communication device is connected to the host device, and during the wireless modem operation mode the power indication switch provides a supply voltage indication signal to the wireless communication unit to indicate host connection and charging availability.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 4, wherein the main processor is connected to the battery interface to control charging of the internal battery;

and during the wireless modem operation mode, the communication processor sends a signal to the main processor indicating that the supply line is providing the charging current to the battery interface.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the data switch transfers data between the host device and the main processor at a first data rate during the normal operation mode and the data switch transfers data between the host device and the wireless communication unit at a second data rate during the wireless modem operation mode where the second data rate is higher than the first data rate.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device further comprises an input device to allow a user to select between the normal operation mode and the wireless modem operation mode.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the input device is one of a keyboard, a touch sensitive screen, a microphone, a touch pad and a roller wheel.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device further includes a filter connected to the data switch to reduce electromagnetic interference generated by the mobile communication device.

11. A method for data communication between a host device and a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device includes a main processor and a wireless communication unit having a communication processor, the main processor controls the operation of the mobile communication device, and the wireless communication unit sends and receives electromagnetic waves corresponding to wireless communication data, the method comprising:

a) providing a switching unit having a data switch for selectively connecting the host device to one of the main processor and the communication processor;

b) configuring the data switch to provide a first data connection between the host device and the main processor when the mobile communication device operates in a normal operation mode; and

,

c) configuring the data switch to provide a second data connection between the host device and the communication unit when the mobile communication device operates in a wireless modem operation mode.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further includes providing a connection between the wireless communication unit and the main processor for coordinating transitions between the normal and wireless modem operation modes.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile communication device further includes a supply line for receiving a charging current from the host device, a battery interface connected to the supply line and an internal battery connected to the battery interface to provide power to the mobile communications device, and the method further includes providing the switching unit with a power indication switch to provide a supply voltage indication signal to the wireless communication unit to indicate host connection and charging availability during the wireless modem operation mode.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication processor sends a signal to the main processor indicating that the supply line is providing the charging current to the battery interface.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the method includes transferring data between the host device and the main processor at a first data rate during the normal operation mode and transferring data between the host device and the wireless communication processor at a second data rate during the wireless modem operation mode where the second data rate is higher than the first data rate.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further includes providing an input device to allow a user to select between the normal operation mode and the wireless modem operation mode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further includes providing at least one of a keyboard, a touch sensitive screen, a microphone, a touch pad and a roller wheel for the input device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the method includes connecting a filter to the data switch to reduce electromagnetic interference generated by the mobile communication device.