Communication configurator and method for implementing same
First Claim
1. A method for configuring the communications of digital equipment, comprising the steps of:
- (a) storing configuration information to configure at least one communication process implemented by a digital equipment;
(b) communicating location information to the digital equipment through a position input, said position input comprising a receiver responsive to at least one of a Global Positioning System signal and a LORAN system signal;
(c) determining the location of the digital equipment; and
(d) reconfiguring said at least one communication process implemented by said digital equipment utilizing the configuration information and the determined location, said reconfiguring including at least reconfiguring a telephone number, such that a subsequent digital communication can be properly made by said digital equipment by dialing said reconfigured telephone number.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for communication configuring in digital equipment based on the location of the equipment includes a mechanism determining the location of the digital equipment and a mechanism configuring a communication channel of the equipment based on the location. The location may be determined using a Global Positioning System, Global Paging System, or similar wireless communication system, or by connection to a wired network. User input may also be used in determining, in part or in whole, the location of the digital equipment. Once the location of the digital equipment has been determined, the communication channel for the digital equipment is configured based upon the location using configuration data stored with the digital equipment.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for configuring the communications of digital equipment, comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing configuration information to configure at least one communication process implemented by a digital equipment; (b) communicating location information to the digital equipment through a position input, said position input comprising a receiver responsive to at least one of a Global Positioning System signal and a LORAN system signal; (c) determining the location of the digital equipment; and (d) reconfiguring said at least one communication process implemented by said digital equipment utilizing the configuration information and the determined location, said reconfiguring including at least reconfiguring a telephone number, such that a subsequent digital communication can be properly made by said digital equipment by dialing said reconfigured telephone number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for configuring digital equipment comprising:
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(a) a storage for storing configuration information including at least telephone dialing information for configuring at least one communication process, including configuring a telephone number, of the digital equipment; (b) a wireless position input including a receiver for receiving location information from at least one of a Global Positioning System and a LORAN system; (c) a processor attached to and controlling the position input for receiving the location information, and attached to an controlling the storage for storing configuration information; and (d) a configuration process running in the processor for determining the location of the digital equipment, and for reconfiguring the at least one communication process, including said telephone number, of the digital equipment utilizing the determined location and configuration information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for configuring the communications of a portable computer system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing configuration information to configure at least one communication process of a portable computer system, said portable computer system including a central processing unit (CPU), an input/output (I/O) circuit, and a communications port coupled to said CPU by said I/O circuit, said communication process communicating with external digital equipment through said communications port of said portable computer system; (b) communicating current location information to the portable computer system through a wireless position input means including at least one of a Global Positioning System and a LORAN system; (c) determining the current location of the portable computer system from said current location information; and (d) reconfiguring the portable computer system utilizing the configuration information and the determined current location including re-configuring a telephone number of a remote digital system with which said portable computer system will communicate, such that a subsequent digital communication with said remote digital system via said port can be properly made by said portable computer system. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A portable computer system comprising:
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a central processing unit (CPU); digital memory coupled to said CPU; input/output (I/O) circuitry coupled to said CPU; a communications port coupled to said I/O circuitry to communicate with said CPU; locator means coupled to said I/O circuitry to communicate with said CPU and to provide said CPU with current location information, said locator including a wireless receiver receptive to at least one of a Global Positioning System and a LORAN system; and processing means stored in said digital memory and executing on said CPU for processing said current location information and for controlling a communications process utilizing said communications port, wherein at least one communication protocol including a telephone number of said communications process is dependent upon said current location information. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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Specification