Method, System and Apparatus for a Dual Mode Mobile Device

• US 20080176548A1
• Filed: 10/06/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VeriSilicon Holdings Co., Ltd. (Verisilicon Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Paragon Wireless, Inc.
• Inventors: Liang, Jie
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• 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

The present invention provides a dual mode mobile device that can use both cellular-based and IP-based applications with single application program interface and without having separate and distinct subsystems for each communications mode. The device may also include a power management module that considerably reduces the power consumption of the device by periodically entering a deep sleep mode for a predetermined sleep interval, changing power modes based on the status of one or more applications, automatically changing power modes based on incoming packets or a combination thereof. The device may also include a remote management module to diagnose, troubleshoot and solve problems involving one of the networks by using the device'"'"'s ability to communicate using the other network. The dual mode capability of the mobile device allows a remote management server or operator to analyze, document and solve problems with the mobile device and/or its connections to a network.

Claims

1. A method of using one or more VoIP-based applications and one or more cellular-based applications in a communications device having a VoIP module and a cellular module, comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction from the VoIP-based applications or the cellular-based applications at a single application program interface communicably coupled to the VoIP-based applications, the cellular-based applications, the VoIP module and the cellular module;

processing the instruction into one or more VoIP-based commands and providing the VoIP-based commands to the VoIP module whenever the communications device is operating in a VoIP mode;

processing the instruction into one or more cellular-based commands and providing the cellular-based commands to the cellular module whenever the communications device is operating in a cellular mode;

receiving a command from the VoIP module or the cellular module at the single application program interface;

determining whether the command is to be provided to one of the VoIP-based applications or one of the cellular-based applications;

processing the command into one or more VoIP-based instructions and providing the VoIP-based instructions to the VoIP-based application whenever the command is to be provided to the VoIP-based application; and

processing the command into one or more cellular-based instructions and providing the cellular-based instructions to the cellular-based application whenever the command is to be provided to the cellular-based application.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a network is accessible;

connecting to the network whenever the network is accessible;

entering a low power mode and remaining in the low power mode for a time period whenever the network is not accessible;

entering a higher power mode upon expiration of the time period and repeating the network determination step; and

increasing the time period whenever the network is repeatedly not accessible.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether any of the VoIP-based applications or the cellular-based applications are incompatible with the low power mode prior to entering the low power mode; and

entering the low power mode only when no applications are incompatible with the low power mode.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a minimum required power mode for each application running on the communications device;

determining whether the minimum required power mode permits a lower power mode; and

changing to the lower power mode whenever the lower power mode is permitted by the minimum required power mode.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the step of monitoring the minimum required power mode for each application comprises the steps of determining the minimum required power mode for each application running on the communications device and saving the minimum required power mode for each application in a memory of the communications device;

the step of determining whether a lower power mode is permitted is performed periodically, or whenever there is a change in the minimum required power mode, or a combination thereof;

or

the lower power mode comprises a deep sleep power mode or a sleep power mode.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a message from a network while the communications device is operating in a low power mode;

determining whether the message requires a higher power mode;

responding to the message without changing the power mode whenever the message does not require the higher power mode; and

changing to the higher power mode whenever the message requires the higher power mode.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining data regarding the communications device;

selecting a communications protocol and either the VoIP module or the cellular module;

creating a first message containing the data using the selected communications protocol;

sending the first message to a remote manager via the selected module;

receiving a second message containing one or more configuration parameters from the remote manager via the selected module; and

implementing the configuration parameters.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the remote manager:

receives the first message containing data obtained from the communications device;

analyzes the data from the first message;

creates one or more configuration parameters;

creates the second message containing the configuration parameters; and

sends the second message to the communications device.

9. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for using one or more VoIP-based applications and one or more cellular-based applications in a communications device having a VoIP module and a cellular module, the computer program comprising:

a code segment for receiving an instruction from the VoIP-based applications or the cellular-based applications at a single application program interface communicably coupled to the VoIP-based applications, the cellular-based applications, the VoIP module and the cellular module;

a code segment for processing the instruction into one or more VoIP-based commands and providing the VoIP-based commands to the VoIP module whenever the communications device is operating in a VoIP mode;

a code segment for processing the instruction into one or more cellular-based commands and providing the cellular-based commands to the cellular module whenever the communications device is operating in a cellular mode;

a code segment for receiving a command from the VoIP module or the cellular module at the single application program interface;

a code segment for determining whether the command is to be provided to one of the VoIP-based applications or one of the cellular-based applications;

a code segment for processing the command into one or more VoIP-based instructions and providing the VoIP-based instructions to the VoIP-based application whenever the command is to be provided to the VoIP-based application; and

a code segment for processing the command into one or more cellular-based instructions and providing the cellular-based instructions to the cellular-based application whenever the command is to be provided to the cellular-based application.

10. A dual mode communications device comprising:

one or more VoIP-based applications;

a VoIP module;

one or more cellular-based applications;

a cellular module; and

a single application program interface communicably coupled to the VoIP-based applications, the VoIP module, the cellular-based applications and the cellular module wherein the single application program interface receives an instruction from the VoIP-based applications or the cellular-based applications, processes the instruction into one or more VoIP-based commands and provides the VoIP-based commands to the VoIP module whenever the communications device is operating in a VoIP mode, processes the instruction into one or more cellular-based commands and provides the cellular-based commands to the cellular module whenever the communications device is operating in a cellular mode, receives a command from the VoIP module or the cellular module, determines whether the command is to be provided to one of the VoIP-based applications or one of the cellular-based applications, processes the command into one or more VoIP-based instructions and provides the VoIP-based instructions to the VoIP-based application whenever the command is to be provided to the VoIP-based application, and processes the command into one or more cellular-based instructions and provides the cellular-based instructions to the cellular-based application whenever the command is to be provided to the cellular-based application.

11. The dual mode communications device as recited in claim 10, wherein:

the one or more IP-based applications comprise a VoIP client, an Internet Browser, an e-mail application, a non-cellular-based application or a combination thereof;

the one or more cellular-based applications comprises a phone book, a SMS application, a MMS application or a combination thereof;

the single application program interface processes all received commands into one or more AT commands;

or

the communications device accepts and runs one or more new IP-based applications or cellular-based applications without customizations or modifications.

12. The dual mode communications device as recited in claim 10, further comprising a power management module that determines whether a network is accessible, connects to the network whenever the network is accessible, enters a low power mode and remains in the low power mode for a time period whenever the network is not accessible, enters a higher power mode upon expiration of the time period and repeating the network determination step, and increases the time period whenever the network is repeatedly not accessible.

13. The dual mode communications device as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the time period is increased in accordance with a pattern, a preset increment, a dynamic increment or a combination thereof;

the time period is reset whenever the network is accessible;

the time period has a minimum value and a maximum value;

the time period is greater than or equal to ten seconds and less than or equal to ten minutes;

the low power mode comprises a deep sleep power mode or a sleep power mode;

the higher power mode comprises the sleep power mode or an active power mode;

the power mode is adjusted based on a communications received from the network;

or the network comprises a cellular network, an unlicensed mobile access network or both.

14. The dual mode communications device as recited in claim 10, wherein the power management module determines whether any of the VoIP-based applications or the cellular-based applications are incompatible with the low power mode prior to entering the low power mode, and enters the low power mode only when no applications are incompatible with the low power mode.

15. The dual mode communications device as recited in claim 10, wherein the power management module monitors a minimum required power mode for each application running on the communications device, determines whether the minimum required power mode permits a lower power mode, and changes to the lower power mode whenever the lower power mode is permitted by the minimum required power mode.

16. The dual mode communications device as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the power management module monitors the minimum required power mode for each application by determining the minimum required power mode for each application running on the communications device and saving the minimum required power mode for each application in a memory of the communications device;

the power management module determines whether a lower power mode is permitted is performed periodically, or whenever there is a change in the minimum required power mode, or a combination thereof;

or the lower power mode comprises a deep sleep power mode or a sleep power mode.

17. The dual mode communications device as recited in claim 10, wherein the power management module receives a message from a network while the communications device is operating in a low power mode, determines whether the message requires a higher power mode, responds to the message without changing the power mode whenever the message does not require the higher power mode, and changes to the higher power mode whenever the message requires the higher power mode.

18. The dual mode communications device as recited in claim 17, wherein:

a “

keep alive”

message or other message required to maintain a connection to the network is transmitted in the low power mode;

the message comprises a digital signal, an analog signal, a communications packet or a communications signal;

the message does not require the change whenever the message comprises a signaling message, a control message, an “

are you there”

message or other message related to a connection to the network;

or

the higher power mode comprises the sleep power mode or an active power mode.

19. The dual mode communications device as recited in claim 10, further comprising a diagnostic module that obtains data regarding the communications device, selects a communications protocol and either the VoIP module or the cellular module, creates a first message containing the data using the selected communications protocol, sends the first message to a remote manager via the selected module, receives a second message containing one or more configuration parameters from the remote manager via the selected module, and implements the configuration parameters.

20. The dual mode communications device as recited in claim 19, wherein the diagnostic module monitors a cellular connection, an IP connection, the communications device or a combination thereof, runs one or more diagnostics, records one or more results of the diagnostics, encrypts the first message, decrypts the second message, or authenticates the remote manager.

21. The dual mode communications device as recited in claim 19, wherein:

the data comprises diagnostic information, operational information, performance information, network information, status information, software information, firmware information, hardware information, user information, version information, virus information, data integrity information, data access information, security information, location information, authentication information or a combination thereof;

the communications protocol comprises SMS, GSM/GPRS, IP, MMS, WAP or http;

the steps are initiated periodically, whenever a problem is detected, by a user of the communications device, by the remote manager or a combination thereof;

the configuration parameters comprise device settings, network settings, SIP settings, cellular settings, WiFi settings, firmware management settings, software patches, fixes, upgrades, commands, instructions, tests, diagnostics, a device “

kill”

command, a data wipe command or a combination thereof;

the configuration parameters are implemented automatically, by a user of the communications device, a person associated with a network, by the remote manager or a combination thereof;

or

the configuration parameters temporarily allow the remote manager to control the communications device.

22. A dual mode communications device comprising:

a VoIP module;

a cellular module; and

a single application program interface communicably coupled to the VoIP-based applications, the VoIP module, the cellular-based applications and the cellular module wherein the single application program interface receives an instruction from the VoIP-based applications or the cellular-based applications, processes the instruction into one or more VoIP-based commands and provides the VoIP-based commands to the VoIP module whenever the communications device is operating in a VoIP mode, processes the instruction into one or more cellular-based commands and provides the cellular-based commands to the cellular module whenever the communications device is operating in a cellular mode, receives a command from the VoIP module or the cellular module, determines whether the command is to be provided to one of the VoIP-based applications or one of the cellular-based applications, processes the command into one or more VoIP-based instructions and provides the VoIP-based instructions to the VoIP-based application whenever the command is to be provided to the VoIP-based application, and processes the command into one or more cellular-based instructions and provides the cellular-based instructions to the cellular-based application whenever the command is to be provided to the cellular-based application; and

a power management module that monitoring a minimum required power mode for each application running on the dual mode communications device, determining whether the minimum required power mode permits a lower power mode and changing to the lower power mode for the VoIP module, the cellular module or both whenever the lower power mode is permitted by the minimum required power mode.

23. The dual mode communications device as recited in claim 22, further comprising a diagnostic module communicably coupled to the VoIP module and the cellular module, the diagnostic module obtaining data regarding the communications device, selecting a communications protocol and either the VoIP module or the cellular module, creating a first message containing the data using the selected communications protocol, sending the first message to a remote manager via the selected module, receiving a second message containing one or more configuration parameters from the remote manager via the selected module, and implementing the configuration parameters.

24. A system comprising:

one or more communications devices, each communications device comprising a VoIP module, a cellular module and a diagnostic module communicably coupled to the VoIP module and the cellular module;

remote manager communicably coupled to the communications devices via one or more networks;

the diagnostic module obtains data regarding the communications device, selects a communications protocol and either the VoIP module or the cellular module, creates a first message containing the data using the selected communications protocol, sends the first message to the remote manager via the selected module, receives a second message containing one or more configuration parameters from the remote manager via the selected module, and implements the configuration parameters; and

the remote manager receives the first message containing data obtained from the communications device, analyzes the data from the first message, creates the configuration parameters, creates the second message containing the configuration parameters and sends the second message to the communications device.

25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the remote manager:

checks a status of one or more devices within a network;

performs one or more tests on the devices within the network;

changes one or more parameters of the devices within the network;

alerts an operator;

opens a report, logs the first message, logs the second message and closes the report;

decrypts the first message and encrypts the second message;

or authenticates the user device.