Interface for connecting computers to radio telephone networks

• US 5,353,334 A
• Filed: 01/06/1994
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles M. Leedom Jr, Eric J. Robinson, MLR, LLC
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Information Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: O'Sullivan, Harry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Application Number:
  US08/178,474
• Time in Patent Office: 271 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 379/63, 379/93, 379/96, 379/97, 379/98, 379/99, 379/100, 379/281, 379/339, 379/353, 379/443, 379/444, 455/33.1, 455/88
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system for connecting a computer to both cellular and landline telephone systems is disclosed. A cellular modem has a single RJ-11 jack for interfacing either to a landline jack or to a signal processing cable connected to a cellular transceiver. The analog data transmission signals of the modem, which are compatible with landline "tip" and "ring" lines, are provided on the third and fourth pins of the RJ-11 connector. When the modem is to be used as a landline modem, the RJ-11 connector is connected directly to a standard landline telephone jack using an ordinary modular telephone wire. When used with a cellular transceiver, the modem generates transceiver operation commands according to a predefined generic command language which is not specific to a particular transceiver. The generic commands are transmitted in serial digital form on the fifth terminal of the RJ-11 connector. The signal processing cable acknowledges the commands received via a serial digital signal transmitted to the second terminal of the RJ-11 connector. The signal processing cable then transmits control signals to the transceiver, with the signals being appropriate to the type of cellular transceiver used, to produce the function requested by the modem'"'"'s universal command.

Claims

1. An interface device for connecting a cellular data modem for transmission of computer data to a cellular telephone device, said cellular telephone device including a cellular bus, comprising:

a. analog interface means connectable between the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for transmitting signals representing computer data between the data modem and the cellular bus;

b. processing means connectable to the cellular data modem and the cellular bus for receiving generic digital command signals from the cellular data modem, processing the generic command signals to generate device-specific cellular telephone control signals adapted to control operation of the specific cellular telephone device attached to the interface device, and transmitting the device-specific cellular telephone control signals to the cellular bus.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the analog interface means is connected to the processing means and operates under control of the processing means to selectively transmit computer data signals between the data modem and the cellular bus.

3. An interface circuit for connecting a computing device to an access device for a radiotelephone network, comprising:

a first information bus for transmitting data signals between the computing device and the access device;

a second information bus for carrying digital control signals in a standardized command language, said language including commands for controlling telephone dialing on said radiotelephone network;

translating means connected between the second information bus and the access device for receiving the standardized command language signals and processing said signals to produce internal command language signals emulating internal command language signals generated by a control unit of the access device and controlling operations in the access device, said internal command language signals being generated in accordance with the standardized command language signals received.

4. The interface circuit of claim 3 further including a standard telephone connector connected to signal lines of the first and second busses for connection of the computing device to said signal lines.

5. A modem interface for connecting a modem to facilitate data transmission over one of at least two types of public communications networks including at least one radiotelephone network which can be selectively accessed through associated communications network access devices connectable to the interface, comprising:

a telephone connector having a plurality of pin connections including tip and ring pins located to operatively connect to a standard landline telephone cable carrying tip and ring lines;

a first information bus for transmitting data signals between the modem and the access device and connected through said telephone connector to said tip and ring pins;

a second information bus for carrying digital control signals from the modem for controlling dialing operations on said radiotelephone network, and connected to pin connections of said telephone connector other than said tip and ring pins;

whereby said telephone connector provides a tip and ring interface between said modem and said communications network access device when said standard landline telephone cable is connected therebetween and provides a digital interface permitting the modem to control dialing operations of said communications network access device associated with said radiotelephone network when a cable providing connections to said second information bus is connected therebetween.

6. An interface device for connecting a data modem for transmission of computer data to a radiotelephone device, said radiotelephone device including a radiotelephone bus, comprising:

a. analog interface means connectable between the data modem and the radiotelephone bus for transmitting signals representing computer data between the data modem and the radiotelephone bus;

b. processing means connectable to the data modem and the radiotelephone bus by a pathway separate from said analog interface means for receiving generic digital command signals from the data modem, processing the generic digital command signals to generate device-specific cellular telephone control signals controlling operation of the specific radiotelephone device attached to the interface device, and transmitting the device-specific radiotelephone control signals to the radiotelephone bus.

7. An interface circuit for connecting a computing device to one of a plurality of access devices for a radio communications network to achieve data transfer with a remote station, comprising:

computer interface means for transferring information between the interface circuit and a portable personal computing device;

cable means for establishing predetermined line connections to a specified one of said access devices in said radio communications network to control address specification and data transmission functions of the access device;

information storage means for receiving and storing at least one of a plurality of possible program data sets defining digital control signals for at least one type of radio communications network access device bus, according to a standard protocol of said bus, and for defining line connections over which said signals are to be transmitted in conjunction with said predetermined line connections established by said cable means; and

control means connected to the computer interface means, the cable means, and the information storage means for receiving operational commands from the portable personal computing device, and in response to said commands retrieving a program data set from the program storage means compatible with the access device connected to said cable means, generating addressing signals to initiate data transfer with the remote station using said access device and said radio communications network, and for transferring data with the remote station.

8. The interface circuit of claim 7 wherein said communication network is a cellular radiotelephone network, and said access device is a cellular radiotelephone.

9. The interface circuit of claim 8 further comprising input means for receiving a user input specifying a type of cellular radiotelephone to be used, and selection means connected to said control means and said input means for causing the control means to retrieve and use a program data set relating to the radiotelephone specified by said user input for generating addressing signals.

10. The interface circuit of claim 7 further comprising modem means for modulating and demodulating data transferred between said computing device and the remote station.

11. The interface circuit of claim 7 wherein said computer interface means comprises a standardized connector mating with a corresponding connector in the portable personal computing device to operably connect the interface circuit for data transfer with the portable personal computing device.

12. The interface circuit of claim 11 wherein said standardized connector is a card slot connector.

13. The interface circuit of claim 7 wherein said cable means includes at least one separable connector which receives one of a plurality of cables, each said cable associated with a specific type of access device and having a plurality of lines extending between a connector compatible with said separable connector and a connector compatible with said specific type of access device.

14. The interface circuit of claim 13 wherein a program data set is associated with each said cable so that the control means transmits information sufficient to initiate a radio transmission, according to a standard protocol of the access device bus in conjunction with said predetermined line connections established by said cable.

15. The interface circuit of claim 14 wherein a plurality of said program data sets are simultaneously available in said program storage means.

16. The interface circuit of claim 7 wherein said line connections include at least one data line for transmitting and receiving data and at least one control signal line separate from the data line for controlling addressing and operation of the access device.

17. The interface circuit of claim 16 wherein the transmissions of said control signal lines vary according to the program data set retrieved by the control means.

18. The interface circuit of claim 17 wherein said line connections include a receive data line and a transmit data line forming a receive and transmit interface with the access device.

19. An interface circuit for connecting a computing device to an access device for a radio communications network to achieve data transfer with a remote station, comprising:

computer connection means for receiving and processing information from a portable personal computing device and for processing and transmitting information to the portable personal computing device;

control means connected to the computer connection means for receiving operational commands from the portable personal computing device, and in response to said commands retrieving a program data set and generating addressing signals to initiate data transfer with the remote station using said access device and said radio communications network; and

an access-device-specific operating combination, including a cable means for establishing predetermined line connections to a specified one of said access devices in said radio communications network to control address specification and data transmission functions of the access device, said cable means having a connector compatible with a connector of the access device, and a program data set defining digital control signals for the access device in conjunction with said predetermined line connections.

20. The interface circuit of claim 19 wherein said communication network is a cellular radiotelephone network, and said access device is a cellular radiotelephone.

21. The interface circuit of claim 20 further comprising input means for receiving a user input specifying a type of cellular radiotelephone to be used, and selection means connected to said control means and said input means for causing the control means to retrieve and use a program data set relating to the radiotelephone specified by said user input for generating addressing signals.

22. The interface circuit of claim 19 wherein said computer connection means comprises a standardized connector mating with a corresponding connector in the portable personal computing device to operably connect the interface circuit for data transfer with the portable personal computing device.

23. The interface circuit of claim 22 wherein said standardized connector is a card slot connector.

24. The interface circuit of claim 19 wherein said cable means includes at least one separable connector which receives one of a plurality of cables, each said cable associated with a specific type of access device and having a plurality of lines extending between a connector compatible with said separable connector and a connector compatible with said specific type of access device.

25. The interface circuit of claim 24 wherein a program data set is associated with each said cable so that the control means transmits information sufficient to initiate a radio transmission, according to a standard protocol of the access device bus in conjunction with said predetermined line connections established by said cable.

26. The interface circuit of claim 25 wherein a plurality of said program data sets are simultaneously available in said interface circuit.

27. The interface circuit of claim 19 wherein said line connections include at least one data line for transmitting and receiving data and at least one control signal line separate from the data line for controlling addressing and operation of the access device.

28. The interface circuit of claim 27 wherein the transmissions of said control signal lines vary according to the program data set in use.

29. The interface circuit of claim 28 wherein said line connections include a receive data line and a transmit data line forming a receive and transmit interface with the access device.