Mobile client computer with radio frequency transceiver

• US 5,873,045 A
• Filed: 10/29/1997
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Peter, Noll, Mark Garner, Reiland, Robert E., Carpenter, Brian Ashley
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woldetatios, Yemane
• Application Number:
  US08/959,997
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550, 455/557, 455/566, 455/575, 455/90, 455/556, 455/558, 364/705.01, 364/705.05, 439/946, 439/367, 439/502, 361/686, 345/179, 345/173
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• 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: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A mobile client system in which a tripartite organization is used to facilitate adaptation of the system to alternate or later developed wireless communication technology. In particular, the system of this invention contemplates the provision of an intermediate element, here called a holster, to enable effective cooperation between a computer system and a radio frequency transceiver. The transceiver, as here contemplated, will have additional capability beyond simple data exchange, and preferably will be a telephone or have telephone capability.

Claims

1. A mobile client computer comprising:

a housing sized to be held in and manipulated by the hand of a user;

a processor mounted within said housing and processing digital data;

a memory device mounted within said housing, storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

a display mounted in said housing and coupled to said processor and said memory device to display information derived from digital data processed by said processor;

an input digitizer mounted in said housing and overlaying said display, said digitizer being coupled to said processor and enabling input of digital data by a user;

a radio frequency transceiver exchanging radio frequency signals with a remote system and thereby transferring data between the remote system and said transceiver; and

a holster operatively interposed between and connecting said housing and said transceiver, said holster having a microcontroller and a plurality of signal conductors connected with said processor and said transceiver, said microcontroller and said conductors exchanging signals between said processor and said transceiver and thereby transferring data between the remote system and said processor.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a battery mounted within said housing and coupled with said processor and said memory device and supplying electrical current to said processor and memory device for operation thereof, and further wherein said holster comprises power transmission circuits operatively connected with and controlled by said microcontroller to supply electrical current to said transceiver from said battery.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said microcontroller monitors voltage available from said battery and responds to a decrease in voltage below a predetermined threshold value by inhibiting transmission of signals to said transceiver.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said processor, acting through said microcontroller and said conductors, controls the operative state of said transceiver.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transceiver, acting through said microcontroller and said conductors, signals to said processor the arrival of an incoming call from a remote system.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said holster further has a bidirectional audio conversion circuit interposed between said processor and said transceiver and converting audio signals exchanged therebetween to and from single ended and differential formats.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said microcontroller and said conductors define a plurality of available data paths between said processor and said transceiver.

8. An assembled mobile client computer system comprising:

a housing sized to be held in and manipulated by the hand of a user;

a processor mounted within said housing and processing digital data;

a memory device mounted within said housing, storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

a display mounted in said housing and coupled to said processor and said memory device to display information derived from digital data processed by said processor;

an input digitizer mounted in said housing and overlaying said display, said digitizer being coupled to said processor and enabling input of digital data by a user;

a radio frequency transceiver exchanging radio frequency signals with a remote system and thereby transferring data between the remote system and said transceiver, said transceiver having telephonic capability for freestanding use; and

a holster separable from, and configured to receive, said housing and said transceiver and operatively interposed between and connecting said housing and said transceiver when received, said holster having a microcontroller and a plurality of signal conductors connected with said processor and said transceiver, said microcontroller and said conductors exchanging signals between said processor and said transceiver and thereby transferring data between the remote system and said processor.

9. A system according to claim 8 further comprising a battery mounted within said housing and coupled with said processor and said memory device and supplying electrical current to said processor and memory device for operation thereof, and further wherein said holster comprises power transmission circuits operatively connected with and controlled by said microcontroller to supply electrical current to said transceiver from said battery.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said microcontroller monitors voltage available from said battery and responds to a decrease in voltage below a predetermined threshold value by inhibiting transmission of signals to said transceiver.

11. A system according to claim 8 wherein said processor, acting through said microcontroller and said conductors, controls the operative state of said transceiver.

12. A system according to claim 8 wherein said transceiver, acting through said microcontroller and said conductors, signals to said processor the arrival of an incoming call from a remote system.

13. A system according to claim 8 wherein said holster further has a bidirectional audio conversion circuit interposed between said processor and said transceiver and converting audio signals exchanged therebetween to and from single ended and differential formats.

14. A system according to claim 8 wherein said microcontroller and said conductors define a plurality of available data paths between said processor and said transceiver.

15. A computer comprising:

a housing;

a processor mounted within said housing and processing digital data;

a memory device mounted within said housing for storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

a display coupled to said processor and said memory device to display information derived from digital data processed by said processor;

a radio frequency transceiver exchanging radio frequency signals with a remote system and thereby transferring data between the remote system and said transceiver; and

a holster operatively interposed between and connecting said housing and said transceiver, said holster having a microcontroller and a plurality of signal conductors connected with said processor and said transceiver, said microcontroller and said conductors exchanging signals between said processor and said transceiver and thereby transferring data between the remote system and said processor.

16. A computer according to claim 15 further comprising a battery mounted within said housing and coupled with said processor and said memory device and supplying electrical current to said processor and memory device for operation thereof, and further wherein said holster comprises power transmission circuits operatively connected with and controlled by said microcontroller to supply electrical current to said transceiver from said battery.

17. A computer according to claim 16 wherein said microcontroller monitors voltage available from said battery and responds to a decrease in voltage below a predetermined threshold value by inhibiting transmission of signals to said transceiver.

18. A computer according to claim 15 wherein said processor, acting through said microcontroller and said conductors, controls the operative state of said transceiver.

19. A computer according to claim 15 wherein said transceiver, acting through said microcontroller and said conductors, signals to said processor the arrival of an incoming call from a remote system.

20. A computer according to claim 15 wherein said holster further has a bidirectional audio conversion circuit interposed between said processor and said transceiver and converting audio signals exchanged therebetween to and from single ended and differential formats.

21. A computer according to claim 15 wherein said microcontroller and said conductors define a plurality of available data paths between said processor and said transceiver.