Data communication device
First Claim
1. A data communication device comprising:
- radio frequency circuitry which comprises;
an antenna for receiving radio frequency signals;
a radio frequency receiver which is tunable between multiple channels, the radio frequency receiver being coupled to the antenna, and demodulating the radio frequency signals into digital information corresponding to a message;
decoder means coupled to the radio frequency receiver for determining whether the message is addressed to a particular user;
a first data memory, in which messages are stored when the decoder means determines that the message is addressed to the user;
radio frequency controller means for controlling the radio frequency receiver, providing channel selection control to the radio frequency receiver, and for determining whether the messages stored in the first data memory comprise a pager message, an alphanumeric e-mail message, or an update message containing firmware that replaces pre-existing firmware in the data communication device;
a first program memory in which firmware is loaded to provide operating instructions for the radio frequency controller means;
multiplexer means for switching the radio frequency controller to read its operating instructions from the first data memory while firmware from the first data memory is loaded into the first program memory; and
means for periodically placing the radio frequency circuitry into a quiescent mode;
telephone interface circuitry for connecting the data communication device to a telephone line;
modem circuitry which comprises;
modem data pump circuitry for transmitting and receiving voice, facsimile communications, and data across a telephone line, the modem data pump circuitry coupled to the telephone interface circuitry, the modem data pump circuitry including analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and an audio amplifier, for handling voice messages;
modem controller means for controlling the modem data pump circuitry;
a second program memory in which firmware is loaded to provide operating instructions for the modem controller means; and
a buffer memory for storing data being transmitted or received by the modem data pump circuitry;
interface circuitry for coupling the communication device to a host computer and selectively permitting data to be transferred between the communication device and the host computer, the interface circuitry coupled to the modem controller means and the radio frequency controller means;
a user interface coupled to the radio frequency circuitry, the user interface comprising a display and a control, the display showing pager messages received by the radio frequency receiver when the communication device is not coupled to a computer; and
power supply interface circuitry for connecting the data communication device to a power supply to provide power to the communication device when it is not coupled to the computer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A data communication device is provided that can be connected to a host computer to add communications capabilities to the host. The data communication device contains a user-programmable multi-channel pager/e-mail receiver that has both numeric and alphanumeric capabilities and a modem. Further, the data communication device may be used with the host as a telephone set or a telephone answering machine. When the device is used as a telephone answering machine and a user desires to retrieve stored messages, the local telephone office is prevented from placing a fast busy signal on the telephone line. The user can update the firmware of the data communication device, or it can be updated remotely by downloading a new firmware version using the pager/e-mail receiver.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A data communication device comprising:
-
radio frequency circuitry which comprises; an antenna for receiving radio frequency signals; a radio frequency receiver which is tunable between multiple channels, the radio frequency receiver being coupled to the antenna, and demodulating the radio frequency signals into digital information corresponding to a message; decoder means coupled to the radio frequency receiver for determining whether the message is addressed to a particular user; a first data memory, in which messages are stored when the decoder means determines that the message is addressed to the user; radio frequency controller means for controlling the radio frequency receiver, providing channel selection control to the radio frequency receiver, and for determining whether the messages stored in the first data memory comprise a pager message, an alphanumeric e-mail message, or an update message containing firmware that replaces pre-existing firmware in the data communication device; a first program memory in which firmware is loaded to provide operating instructions for the radio frequency controller means; multiplexer means for switching the radio frequency controller to read its operating instructions from the first data memory while firmware from the first data memory is loaded into the first program memory; and means for periodically placing the radio frequency circuitry into a quiescent mode; telephone interface circuitry for connecting the data communication device to a telephone line; modem circuitry which comprises; modem data pump circuitry for transmitting and receiving voice, facsimile communications, and data across a telephone line, the modem data pump circuitry coupled to the telephone interface circuitry, the modem data pump circuitry including analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and an audio amplifier, for handling voice messages; modem controller means for controlling the modem data pump circuitry; a second program memory in which firmware is loaded to provide operating instructions for the modem controller means; and a buffer memory for storing data being transmitted or received by the modem data pump circuitry; interface circuitry for coupling the communication device to a host computer and selectively permitting data to be transferred between the communication device and the host computer, the interface circuitry coupled to the modem controller means and the radio frequency controller means; a user interface coupled to the radio frequency circuitry, the user interface comprising a display and a control, the display showing pager messages received by the radio frequency receiver when the communication device is not coupled to a computer; and power supply interface circuitry for connecting the data communication device to a power supply to provide power to the communication device when it is not coupled to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A data communication device comprising:
-
radio frequency circuitry which comprises; an antenna for receiving radio frequency signals; a radio frequency receiver which is tunable between multiple channels, the radio frequency receiver being coupled to the antenna, and demodulating the radio frequency signals into digital information corresponding to a message; decoder means coupled to the radio frequency receiver for determining whether the message is addressed to a particular user; and means for saving power by periodically placing the radio frequency circuitry into a quiescent mode; telephone interface circuitry for connecting the data communication device to a telephone line; modem circuitry which comprises; modem data pump circuitry for transmitting and receiving voice, facsimile communications, and data across a telephone line, the modem data pump circuitry coupled to the telephone interface circuitry, the modem data pump circuitry including analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and an audio amplifier, for handling voice messages; means for placing the modem circuitry into a power-conserving sleep mode, a data memory for storing messages received by the radio frequency receiver, and for storing messages being sent or received by the modem data pump circuity; controller means for controlling the modem data pump circuitry, for controlling the radio frequency receiver, and for determining whether data received in the data memory is voice data, facsimile data, modem data, a pager message, an alphanumeric e-mail message, or an update message, containing firmware that replaces pre-existing firmware in the data communication device; a program memory in which firmware is loaded to provide operating instructions for the controller means; multiplexer means for switching the controller means to read its operating instructions from the data memory while firmware from the data memory is loaded into the program memory; interface circuitry for coupling the communication device to a host computer and selectively permitting data to be transferred between the communication device and the host computer, the interface circuitry coupled to the controller means; a user interface coupled to the radio frequency circuitry, the user interface comprising a display and a control, the display showing pager messages received by the radio frequency receiver when the communication device is not coupled to a computer; and power supply interface circuitry for connecting the data communication device to a power supply to provide power to the communication device when it is not coupled to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification