Data communication device

• US 5,822,692 A
• Filed: 09/04/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flat Connections, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flat Connections, Inc.
• Inventors: Krishan, Baldev, Chang, Wang Yang
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoll, Thomas L.
• Application Number:
  US08/706,521
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 455/186.1, 455/185.1, 455/161.2, 455/166.1, 455/31.3, 455/419, 455/557, 340/825.44, 340/311.1
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

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.

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.

2. The data communication device of claim 1, wherein the telephone interface circuitry includes means for preventing the local telephone office from generating a fast busy signal.

3. The data communication device of claim 1, wherein the interface circuitry includes a means for powering the data communication device when the data communication device is coupled to the host computer.

4. The data communication device of claim 1, wherein the power supply interface means includes a means for placing the communication device into a power-conserving sleep mode.

5. The data communication device of claim 1, wherein the buffer memory of the modem circuitry may store messages containing firmware that replaces pre-existing firmware in the data communication device, and the modem circuitry includes multiplexer means for switching the modem controller to read its operating instructions from the buffer memory while firmware from the buffer memory is loaded into the second program memory.

6. The data communication device of claim 1, wherein the interface circuitry conforms to a specification for a PCMCIA interface.

7. The data communication device of claim 1, wherein the data communication device comprises a housing having a portion conforming to a mechanical specification for PCMCIA cards.

8. The data communication device of claim 7, wherein the control comprises a three position switch disposed on a lateral face of the housing.

9. The data communication device of claim 7, wherein the user display is an LCD display that displays pager messages.

10. The data communication device of claim 7, wherein the data communication device comprises an RJ-11 telephone jack disposed on a lateral face of the housing, the RJ-11 telephone jack coupled to the telephone interface circuitry.

11. The data communication device of claim 7, wherein the housing comprises a compartment, and the power supply interface circuitry is disposed within the compartment.

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.

13. The data communication device of claim 12, wherein the telephone interface circuitry includes means for preventing the local telephone office from generating a fast busy signal.

14. The data communication device of claim 12, wherein the interface circuitry includes a means for powering the data communication device when the data communication device is coupled to the host computer.

15. The data communication device of claim 12, wherein the power supply interface means includes a means for placing the communication device into a power-conserving sleep mode.

16. The data communication device of claim 12, wherein the interface circuitry conforms to a specification for a PCMCIA interface.

17. The data communication device of claim 16, wherein the data communication device comprises a housing having a portion conforming to a mechanical specification for PCMCIA cards.

18. The data communication device of claim 17, wherein the user display is an LCD display that displays pager messages.

19. The data communication device of claim 17, wherein the data communication device comprises an RJ-11 telephone jack disposed on a lateral face of the housing, the RJ-11 telephone jack coupled to the telephone interface circuitry.

20. The data communication device of claim 17, wherein the housing comprises a compartment, and the power supply interface circuitry is disposed within the compartment.