SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE TO ...

• US 20080254835A1
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mellqvist, Anders
• Application Number:
  US11/854,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20080254835A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/559
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A system and a method for a portable communication device to receive and transmit information (e.g., place and receive telephone calls, transmit and receive E-mail messages, SMS messages, Internet communications, etc.) through an unlicensed mobile access network, when such network is available. When the unlicensed mobile access network is unavailable, the user may transmit and receive such information through the mobile cellular network.

Claims

1. A portable communication device comprising:

a memory;

a universal port for coupling the universal port to an associated external electronic device that is configured to communicate with an unlicensed mobile access network;

a processor that executes an application program within the memory, the application program when executed causing the portable communication device to;

transmit a request for services to the external electronic device through the universal port; and

establish a logical connection between the portable communication device and the unlicensed mobile network, wherein the portable communication device may receive and transmit calls over the unlicensed mobile network.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the universal port is a universal serial bus port.

3. The portable communication device of claim 2, wherein a universal serial bus cable is removably attached to the universal serial port for coupling the portable communication device to the associated external electronic device.

4. The portable communication device of claim 1 further including a local interface adapter for communicating between the portable communication device and a headset.

5. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the local interface adapter is a Bluetooth-compatible adapter.

6. The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the Bluetooth-compatible adapter is configured to communicate with a wireless headset.

7. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the local interface adapter is configured to accept a wired headset.

8. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the application program further causes the portable communications device to synchronize information stored on the portable communication device with information stored on the external electronic device.

9. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein when the unlicensed mobile access network is unavailable to the portable communications device, the application program further causes the portable communications device to establish a logical connection between the portable communication device and a cellular network the unlicensed mobile network, wherein the portable communication device may receive and transmit calls over the unlicensed mobile network.

10. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the external electronic device is a personal computer.

11. A method of connecting a portable communications device to an unlicensed mobile access network, the method comprising:

providing a portable communication device having a memory, an application program stored in the memory, a universal port and a processor coupled to the memory and the universal port;

coupling the portable communication device through the universal port to an external electronic device, wherein the external electronic device is configured to communicate with a wide area network through an unlicensed mobile access network; and

wherein upon coupling the portable communication device through the universal port to the external electronic device causing the processor to execute the application program within the memory, the application program when executed causing the portable communications device to;

transmit a request for services to the external electronic device through the universal port; and

establish a logical connection between the portable communication device and the unlicensed mobile access network, wherein the portable communication device may receive and transmit calls over the unlicensed mobile access network.

12. The method of claim 11 further including when a connection to the unlicensed mobile access network is unavailable, the portable communication device establishes a connection with a mobile cellular network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the universal port is a universal serial bus port.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a universal serial bus cable is removably attached to the universal port for coupling the portable communication device to the associated external electronic device.

15. The method of claim 11 further including providing a local interface adapter coupled to the processor for receiving and transmitting communication signals between the portable communication device and a headset.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the local interface adapter is a Bluetooth-compatible adapter that is configured to communicate with a wireless headset.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the local interface adapter is configured to accept a wired headset.

18. The method of claim 11 further including synchronizing information stored on the portable communication device with information stored on the external electronic device.

19. The method of claim of claim 11 further including synchronizing information stored on the external electronic device with information stored on the portable communication device.

20. A computer program stored on a machine readable medium, the program being suitable for use in a portable communication device as communication application, wherein:

when the portable communication device is coupled to an external electronic device and the communication application is loaded in memory in the portable communication device and executed causes the portable communications device to;

transmit a request for services to the external electronic device through the universal port; and

establish a logical connection between the portable communication device and an unlicensed mobile access network, wherein the portable communication device may receive and transmit calls over the unlicensed mobile access network.