Modular cell phone for laptop computers
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- a wireless communicator comprising;
a baseband modem for connecting to the Internet via a cellular network; and
a connector for physically connecting the wireless communicator to a laptop computer port; and
a laptop computer comprising;
a wireless modem for communicating in a wireless mode with said wireless communicator;
a port for physically connecting said wireless communicator to the laptop computer and for communicating in a wired mode with said wireless communicator; and
a connection wedge,wherein said laptop computer connects to the Internet via a link between said laptop computer and said wireless communicator, and wherein said connection wedge selectively uses the wired mode or the wireless mode for the link according to whether or not said wireless communicator is physically connected to said laptop computer port, respectively.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system including a wireless communicator including a baseband modem for connecting to the Internet via a cellular network, and a connector for physically connecting the wireless communicator to a laptop computer port, and a laptop computer including a wireless modem for communicating in a wireless mode with the wireless communicator, a port for physically connecting the wireless communicator to the laptop computer and for communicating in a wired mode with the wireless communicator, and a connection wedge, wherein the laptop computer connects to the Internet via a link between the laptop computer and the wireless communicator, and wherein the connection wedge selectively uses the wired mode or the wireless mode for the link according to whether or not the wireless communicator is physically connected to the laptop computer, respectively. A method is also described and claimed.
75 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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a wireless communicator comprising; a baseband modem for connecting to the Internet via a cellular network; and a connector for physically connecting the wireless communicator to a laptop computer port; and a laptop computer comprising; a wireless modem for communicating in a wireless mode with said wireless communicator; a port for physically connecting said wireless communicator to the laptop computer and for communicating in a wired mode with said wireless communicator; and a connection wedge, wherein said laptop computer connects to the Internet via a link between said laptop computer and said wireless communicator, and wherein said connection wedge selectively uses the wired mode or the wireless mode for the link according to whether or not said wireless communicator is physically connected to said laptop computer port, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of communication, comprising:
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opening a data connection from a laptop computer to the Internet via a wireless communicator, wherein the wireless communicator connects to the Internet over a cellular network and wherein the laptop computer connects to the wireless communicator over a short range wireless link, a physical link, or both a short range wireless link and a physical link; selectively using at least one appropriate link between the laptop computer and the wireless communicator according to whether or not the wireless communicator is physically attached to the laptop computer; and persisting the data connection comprising maintaining the integrity of the data transmitted over the data connection before, during and after said selectively using. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A laptop computer comprising:
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a wireless modem for communicating in a wireless mode with a wireless communicator; a port for physically connecting the wireless communicator to the laptop computer and for communicating in a wired mode with the wireless communicator; and a connection wedge, wherein the laptop computer connects to the Internet via a link between the laptop computer and the wireless communicator, and wherein said connection wedge selectively uses the wired mode or the wireless mode for the link according to whether or not the wireless communicator is physically connected to said laptop computer port, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A communication system comprising:
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a wireless communicator comprising; a baseband modem for conducting a phone call via a cellular network; a microphone for providing audio input during the phone call; a speaker for providing audio output during the phone call; a connector for physically connecting the wireless communicator to a laptop computer port; and a laptop computer comprising; a microphone for providing audio input; at least one speaker for providing audio output; a port for physically connecting said wireless communicator to the laptop computer; and an audio bridge, for using said laptop computer microphone instead of said wireless communicator microphone to provide audio input during the phone call, and for using said laptop computer at least one speaker instead of said wireless communicator speaker to provide audio output during the phone call, when said wireless communicator is physically connected to said laptop computer port.
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33. A method of communication, comprising:
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detecting, by a laptop computer, that a wireless communicator has been physically attached to the laptop computer during an ongoing phone call being conducted via the wireless communicator; channeling audio input from the laptop computer microphone to the wireless communicator when said detecting occurs; and channeling audio output from the wireless communicator to one or more speakers of the laptop computer when said detecting occurs.
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34. A laptop computer comprising:
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a microphone for providing audio input; at least one speaker for providing audio output; a port for physically connecting a wireless communicator to the laptop computer; and an audio bridge, for using said laptop computer microphone to provide audio input during an ongoing phone call being conducted via the wireless communicator, and for using said laptop computer at least one speaker to provide audio output during the ongoing phone call, when the wireless communicator is physically connected to said laptop computer port during the ongoing phone call.
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Specification