Universal wireless telephone to modem adapter

• US 6,529,743 B1
• Filed: 03/29/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Croft, Kenneth A., Thompson, Curtis Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/280,331
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550, 455/551, 455/554, 455/555, 455/556, 455/557, 455/558, 455/100, 455/11.1, 455/66, 455/420, 455/552, 380/24, 380/49, 710/64, 710/12, 710/67, 375/220, 370/466, 370/467
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A wireless communication system configured to transceive information through use of a wireless telephone, the wireless communication system comprising a host that is configured to transmit and receive a signal. In communication with the host is an analog-only capable modem. The modem is capable of transceiving the signal along an analog communication network. Coupled with the modem and the wireless telephone is a communication adaptor mechanism which is configured to convert the signal from the modem such that the wireless telephone is capable of transceiving the signal.

Claims

1. A universal wireless adaptor device for operatively coupling of an analog modem to a wireless transceiver within a wireless communication system, comprising:

(a) a communication interface configured to communicate with a modem capable of solely transceiving an analog signal and for physically externally coupling with said modem;

(b) wireless interface means for transceiving a digital signal unique to said specific type of said wireless transceiver and for physically externally coupling with said wireless transceiver; and

(c) conversion means for converting between said analog signal incident to said communication interface and said digital signal transceived by said wireless interface means, said wireless adaptor being separately detachable from said modem and said wireless transceiver allowing each to operate independent of said wireless adaptor.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the universal wireless adaptor device further comprises a ring generator and a power supply.

3. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication interface is formed from a direct access arrangement provide with a “

off-hook”

detection circuit.

4. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication interface is capable of only interfacing with public service telephone network lines.

5. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless interface means comprises a digital signal processor capable of digitizing said analog signal to a wireless transceiver compatible signal.

6. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless interface means comprises cable ID which automatically determines the type of wireless transceiver to be connected with the universal wireless adaptor device.

7. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless interface means comprises a cradle within which said wireless telephone is located.

8. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless interface means comprises an infrared transceiver coupled to the universal wireless adaptor device and a corresponding infrared transceiver coupled to said wireless transceiver.

9. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless interface means comprises an radio frequency transceiver coupled to the universal wireless adaptor device and a corresponding radio frequency transceiver coupled to said wireless transceiver.

10. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said conversion means comprises a circuitry capable of converting a wireless transceiver compatible signal into an infrared signal.

11. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said conversion means comprises a circuitry capable of converting a wireless transceiver compatible signal into a radio frequency signal.

12. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said conversion means comprises a coder/decoder in combination with a digital signal processor capable of digitizing a signal from said coder/decoder to a wireless transceiver compatible signal.

13. A wireless communication system configured to transceive information through use of a wireless transceiver, the wireless communication system comprising:

(a) a host configured to transmit and receive a signal;

(b) an analog-only capable modem in communication with said host, said modem being capable of transceiving said signal within an analog communication network; and

(c) wireless adaptor means for operatively coupling of an analog modem to a wireless transceiver for transforming said signal transceived by said modem such that said wireless transceiver is capable of transceiving said signal, said adaptor including;

a. a communication interface configured to communicate with a modem capable of solely transceiving an analog signal and for physically externally coupling with said modem;

b. wireless interface means for transceiving a digital signal unique to said specific type of said wireless transceiver and for physically externally coupling with said wireless transceiver; and

c. conversion means for converting between said analog signal incident to said communication interface and said digital signal transceived by said wireless interface means, said wireless adaptor being separately detachable from said modem and said wireless transceiver allowing each to operate independent of said wireless adaptor.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said host comprises a personal computer.

15. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said analog-only capable modem is formed from a PCMCIA form factor.

16. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said wireless adaptor means comprises a cradle within which wireless transceiver is located.

17. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said wireless adaptor means utilizes infrared technology to transceive signals from said analog-only capable modem and said wireless transceiver.

18. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said wireless adaptor means utilizes radio frequency technology to transceive signals from said analog-only capable modem and said wireless transceiver.

19. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein said communication interface comprises a direct access arrangement.

20. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein said direct access arrangement is formed with “

off-hook”

detection capabilities.

21. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein said wireless interface is formed with an infrared transceiver.

22. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein said wireless interface is formed with a radio frequency transceiver.

23. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein said wireless interface utilizes cable ID.

24. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein said conversion circuit comprises a digital signal processor and a CODEC.