Modular mobile communication system

• US 6,480,724 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2001
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Isotalo, Mika, Haavisto, Jouko, Peuhu, Arto, Erkkila, Marko
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/827,761
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550, 455/556, 455/557, 455/558, 455/566, 455/66, 235/380, 348/14.1, 348/14.02, 348/14.03, 348/14.04, 348/14.05, 348/373
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• 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 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals

Abstract

A modular system for personal data acquisition and communication, is expanded advantageously a cellular telephone system the functions of which can be increased by means of various expansion cards. A host device in the system according to the invention, such as a mobile communication device, need not be equipped with all possible functions in the manufacturing stage but some of the functions can be realized on expansion cards, and the user can add a desired function to the host device according to need. The expansion cards are small and they are installed substantially inside the host device, such as a mobile communication device, so that the entity formed by the host device and the expansion card seems to the user as a single compact device. Advantageously, the expansion cards include, in addition to the hardware needed, also the software required for controlling the operation of the modules.

Claims

1. A system for communication and data processing having a portable host device and a control unit in the host device for controlling the functions of the host device comprising:

a cellular telephone unit in the host device connected to said control unit;

at least one connector socket in the host device for connecting an expansion card to said control unit, said socket adapted to receive the expansion card, wherein, in the received position, a surface of the expansion card cooperates with a surface of the host device to define an exterior surface for the system;

at least one expansion card for adding an additional function in the function selection of the host device, the expansion card having elements required to realize said additional function;

a control program in the expansion card required to control said elements;

said control program being adapted for execution at least via the user interface of the host device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, in the received position, the expansion card is inside the host device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein, in the received position, the expansion card is partly outside the host device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said elements required to realize said additional function comprise an accessory integrated to the expansion card.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein, in the received position, the accessory integrated to the expansion card is at least partly outside the host device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said accessory comprises a user interface and said control program is adapted for execution partly via the user interface of host device and partly via the user interface of the accessory.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said additional function is an interface for an external accessory and said elements required to realize said additional function comprise connecting means for connecting external accessory to the host device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein, in the received position, a surface of the connecting means for connecting external accessory, together with the surface of the rest of the expansion card, cooperates with a surface of the host device to define an exterior surface for the system.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the connecting means comprise a connector.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the connecting means comprise a connector socket.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said expansion card is an expansion card complying with the Miniature Card standard.

12. The system of claim 1, comprising more than one control program in the expansion card for connection to host devices of various types, the host device being designated to use that particular version of the expansion card control program which is adapted to that particular host device.

13. An expansion card adapted to be fitted into a connector socket in a portable host device, said portable device having a control unit and a cellular telephone unit connected to said control unit, said expansion card comprising:

a housing having a shape which enables said expansion card to fit into said socket, said socket adapted to receive the expansion card, wherein, in the received position, the expansion card is connected to said control unit and a surface of said housing of said expansion card cooperates with a surface of said portable device to define an exterior surface for said portable device;

elements for realizing an additional function for said portable device; and

a memory element for storing software required for controlling said elements, wherein said software is adapted for execution at least via the user interface of the portable device.

14. The expansion card of claim 13, comprising:

a connector socket for additional expansion cards.

15. The expansion card of claim 13, wherein said elements required for realizing said additional function comprise an accessory integrated to the expansion card.

16. The expansion card of claim 15, wherein said accessory comprises a microphone.

17. The expansion card of claim 15, wherein said accessory is a security device.

18. The expansion card of claim 15, wherein said accessory is a digital camera.

19. The expansion card of claim 13, wherein said additional function is an interface for an external accessory and said elements for realizing said additional function comprise connecting means for connecting external accessory to the host device.

20. The expansion card of claim 19, wherein the connecting means comprise a connector.

21. The expansion card of claim 19, wherein the connecting means comprise a connector socket.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein said expansion card is an expansion card complying with the Miniature Card standard.

23. A portable device for personal communication having a cellular telephone unit and at least one expansion card connector socket for connecting expansion cards to the device for adding an additional function to the functions of the device;

wherein said socket is adapted to receive the expansion card in a position, such that the surface of the expansion card cooperates with a surface of the host device to define an exterior surface for the device; and

further wherein the device is arranged to read identification information from at least one of said expansion cards when connected to the expansion card connector socket;

the device is arranged to determine whether said identification information indicates that the expansion card comprises the program needed for controlling the expansion card, to control the functions of the expansion card by means of said program, wherein said program is adapted for execution at least via the user interface of the host device.