PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVER

• US 20080113653A1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Brass, Richard, Wecker, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,311,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

An improved system and method for a personal communications server is provided. The system and method may provide seamless multi-functional wireless communications for different integrated applications desired by a user. To this end, a computing device with a telecommunications interface is provided for coupling to a mobile phone network. The computing device may be without an attached audio input and output device, but may include a network interface for coupling with an external audio input and output device to receive audio from the mobile phone network and/or to send audio to the mobile network. A computer with a network interface may also be coupled with the computing device to receive data from a mobile phone network and/or to send data to the mobile network.

Claims

1. A system for handling phone services, comprising:

a computing device comprising;

at least one standalone operating state;

a telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network, the telecommunications interface operable to receive data from the mobile phone network; and

an ignition switch interface configured to selectively connect to the ignition switch of an automobile for connecting the computing device to the bus of a computer when the ignition switch interface is inserted into the ignition switch; and

a computer without a telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network, the computer comprising;

a network interface coupled to the computing device to receive data from the mobile phone network via the telecommunications interface at the computing device; and

an interface selectively coupled to an ignition switch, wherein the ignition switch is configured to connect to the ignition switch interface of the computing device to connect the ignition switch interface to a bus of the computer through the ignition switch.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an audio input and output device external to the computing device, the audio input and output device having a network interface for coupling with the computing device to receive audio from the mobile phone network.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the network interface coupled to the computing device comprises a network interface to send data to the mobile phone network.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the network interface coupled to the computing device comprises a network interface for coupling with the computing device to send audio to the mobile phone network.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the network interface comprises a personal area network interface.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein network device comprises a local area network interface.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the network interface comprises a wide area network interface.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a button coupled to the computing device for providing input to operating the computing device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the button comprises an application button dedicated for operating a particular application.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising an authentication interface operably coupling an authentication host to the computing device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the authentication interface comprises USB connectivity and smart card functionality for the computing device to operate as a readerless smart card.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the ignition switch interface configured to connect to the ignition switch of an automobile comprises an automobile key.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the ignition switch interface configured to connect to the ignition switch of an automobile comprises a USB interface.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the ignition switch interface configured to connect to the ignition switch of an automobile facilitates at least one of power being supplied to the computing device through the ignition switch interface and audio being transmitted between the computing device and the computer through the ignition switch interface.

15. A system for handling phone services, comprising:

a computing device without an attached audio input and output device, the computing device comprising;

at least one standalone operating state;

a telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network, the telecommunications interface operable to receive data from the mobile phone network;

a network interface configured to couple to devices external to the computing device to provide data from the mobile phone network to devices external to the computing device; and

an ignition switch interface configured to selectively connect the computing device to the bus of an external computer through the ignition switch of an automobile when the ignition switch interface is inserted into the ignition switch.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a display.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the display comprises a notification indicator.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the display uses at least one member of the set comprising visual, audible, and tactile representations.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the ignition switch interface a configured to connect to the ignition switch of an automobile comprises an automobile key.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the ignition switch interface configured to connect to the ignition switch of an automobile facilitates at least one of power being supplied to the computing device through the ignition switch interface and audio being transmitted between the computing device and the computer through the ignition switch interface.