Method and apparatus in a communication device for automatic transfer of control from an internal processor to an external computer

• US 5,444,869 A
• Filed: 08/05/1994
• Issued: 08/22/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Maroun, Tony Y., Stricklin, Douglas M., VanDyke, William R. Jr., Cannon, Gregory L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Application Number:
  US08/286,589
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 455/66, 455/88, 455/89, 455/185.1, 455/186.1, 455/186.2, 455/344, 455/343, 340/825.44, 340/311.1, 379/57, 379/58
• US Class Current: 455/90.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/229 with other provisions not elsewhere provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically transferring control of a portable radio communication device (101) having an internal processor (108) and a first data port (118) comprise transferring (412, 414) control from the internal processor (108) to an external computer (103), the external computer (103) having a second data port (128). In the portable radio communication device (101) the internal processor (108) detects (406) a signal at the first data port (118), the signal indicating that the external computer (103) is coupled to the portable radio communication device (101) through the first and second data ports (118, 128). In response, the internal processor (108) transfers (412, 414) control of the portable radio communication device (101) from the internal processor (108) to the external computer (103).

Claims

1. A method for conserving battery power in a battery-powered portable radio communication device having an internal processor and a first data port, in response to the portable radio communication device being coupled to an external computer having a second data port, the method comprising in the portable radio communication device the steps of:

(a) detecting a signal at the first data port, the signal indicating that the external computer is coupled to the portable radio communication device through the first and second data ports; and

(b) conserving the battery power in the portable radio communication device by transferring control of the portable radio communication device from the internal processor to the external computer in response to step (a), comprising;

in the portable radio communication device the steps of;

(c) sending a signal to the external computer comprising a request for transfer of control from the internal processor to the external computer;

(d) receiving a response from the external computer comprising a list of functional elements that the external computer is programmed to control; and

(e) transferring control of the functional elements listed in step (d); and

in the external computer the steps of;

(f) responding to step (c) with the list of functional elements that the external computer is programmed to control; and

(g) assuming control of the functional elements listed in step (f).

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises transferring total control of the portable radio communication device from the internal processor to the external computer.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises transferring partial control of the portable radio communication device from the internal processor to the external computer.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising in the external computer the steps of:

(h) receiving software compatible with the method for automatically transferring control; and

(i) storing the software received in step (h) in the external computer.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising in the portable radio communication device the step of:

(j) programming the internal processor with software compatible with the method for automatically transferring control.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the step of:

(k) transferring radio communication message decoding from the internal processor to the external computer.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein step (k) comprises the step of:

(l) transferring radio communication message decoding for selected messages.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein message selection is based upon message type.

9. A battery-powered portable radio communication device comprising:

antenna means for intercepting radio signals comprising address and message information;

receiver means coupled to the antenna means for demodulating the intercepted radio signals;

decoder means coupled to the receiver means for decoding demodulated addresses;

processor means coupled to the receiver means and to the decoder means for controlling the portable radio communication device;

memory means coupled to the processor means for storing software operating instructions and demodulated messages;

data port means coupled to the processor means for communicating with an external computer;

a first processor element coupled to the processor means for detecting a signal at the data port means, the signal indicating that the external computer is coupled to the portable radio communication device; and

a second processor element coupled to the processor means for conserving battery power in the portable radio communication device by transferring control of the portable radio communication device from the processor means to the external computer, the second processor element comprising;

a transfer request element for requesting a transfer of control from the internal processor to the external computer; and

a transfer completion element coupled to the transfer request element for transferring control of functional elements listed in a response from the external computer.

10. The portable radio communication device of claim 9, wherein the data port means is constructed and operated in accordance with the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) standard.

11. The portable radio communication device of claim 9, wherein the second processor element comprises software instructions for transferring total control of the portable radio communication device from the processor means to the external computer.

12. The portable radio communication device of claim 9, wherein the second processor element comprises software instructions for transferring partial control of the portable radio communication device from the processor means to the external computer.

13. A battery-powered selective call receiver comprising:

an antenna for intercepting radio signals comprising address and message information;

a receiver coupled to the antenna for demodulating the intercepted radio signals;

a decoder coupled to the receiver for decoding demodulated addresses;

a processor coupled to the receiver and to the decoder for controlling the selective call receiver;

a memory coupled to the processor for storing software operating instructions and demodulated messages;

a data port coupled to the processor for communicating with an external computer;

a first processor element coupled to the processor for detecting a signal at the data port, the signal indicating that the external computer is coupled to the selective call receiver; and

a second processor element coupled to the processor for conserving battery power of the selective call receiver by transferring control of the selective call receiver from the processor to the external computer, the second processor element comprising;

a transfer request element for requesting a transfer of control from the internal processor to the external computer; and

a transfer completion element coupled to the transfer request element for transferring control of functional elements listed in a response from the external computer.

14. The selective call receiver of claim 13, wherein the data port is constructed and operated in accordance with the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) standard.

15. The selective call receiver of claim 13, wherein the second processor element comprises software instructions for transferring total control of the selective call receiver from the processor to the external computer.

16. The selective call receiver of claim 13, wherein the second processor element comprises software instructions for transferring partial control of the selective call receiver from the processor to the external computer.