Portable apparatus for providing multiple integrated communication media

• US 5,497,339 A
• Filed: 08/02/1994
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ETE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ETE Incorporated
• Inventors: Bernard, Marc A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Malzahn, David H.
• Application Number:
  US08/284,396
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 364/705.05, 364/708.1, 364/705.05, 364/708.1, 395/500
• US Class Current: 708/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication device for a personal digital assistant (PDA). The PDA mounts within the communication device and the communication device connects electronically to a serial port on the PDA. Through this single serial port, the communication device provides the user of the PDA with access to multiple communication media, such as a telephone modem, a Global Positioning System engine, a packet radio and a cellular telephone. Data from the PDA is directed to a decoder that routes the data to the appropriate communication medium, while data from the communication media are multiplexed onto the single serial interface of the PDA. The communication device also provides a pass-thru serial interface that allows other external devices to communicate directly with the serial port of the PDA. In addition, the communication device can upload software to the PDA that facilitates communications between the PDA and the communication device, and allows the PDA to control the operation of the communication device.

Claims

1. A portable communication system comprising:

a palm computer comprising at least one application program and an application server, wherein said application server is coupled in communication with said application program and generates data packets in response to requests issued by said at least one application program; and

a cradle for releasable retaining said palm computer therein, said cradle comprising;

a communication server coupled to said application server via an interface, said communication server having a packet interface which receives data packets transferred by said application server, said communication server further having a packet distributor coupled to said packet interface which receives data packets from said packet interface, and a plurality of generic emulators coupled to said packet distributor, wherein said packet distributor transfers said data packets received from said packet interface to an appropriate one of said generic emulators; and

a plurality of integral communications devices, each of said integral communication devices coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of generic emulators, wherein said generic emulators reformat said data packets received from said packet distributor in accordance with specific requirements of said communication device coupled thereto, and wherein said generic emulators transfer said reformatted data packets to said corresponding communication device.

2. The portable communications system of claim 1, wherein said data packets contain commands to control the operation of said communication devices.

3. The portable communications system of claim 1, wherein said data packets contain requests for data from said communication devices.

4. The portable communications system of claim 1, wherein said data packets contain data for transmission by an appropriate communication device.

5. The portable communications system of claim 1, wherein said data packets contain address information identifying a destination of said data packets.

6. The portable communications system of claim 1, wherein said communication devices further generate data packets for transmission to one or more of said application programs.

7. The portable communications system of claim 6, wherein said data packets generated by said communication devices identify the type of data contained therein.

8. A palm computer communications cradle which provides alternative communication capabilities for a palm computer releasably retained therein, said communications cradle comprising:

a communication server coupled to said palm computer via an interface, wherein said communication server receives data packets generated by said palm computer; and

a plurality of integral communications circuits, each of said integral communication circuits coupled to said communication server, wherein said communication server reformats said data packets received from said palm computer in accordance with specific requirements of said communication circuits coupled thereto, and wherein said communication server transfers said reformatted data packets to an appropriate one of said communication circuits.

9. The palm computer communications cradle of claim 8, wherein said communications circuits further generate data packets for transmission to said palm computer.

10. The palm computer communications cradle of claim 8, wherein said communications circuits comprise at least two of a global positioning satellite system, a modem, a packet radio system, a land phone coupled to said modem, and a cellular phone coupled to said modem.

11. The portable communications system of claim 8, wherein said data packets contain commands to control the operation of said communication devices.

12. The portable communications system of claim 8, wherein said data packets contain request for data from said communication devices.

13. The portable communications system of claim 9, wherein said data packets contain data for transmission by an appropriate communication device.