Terminal device emulator

• US 6,694,134 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aido Audio LLC (Endpoint IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Interwave Communications International SA (Alvarion Limited)
• Inventors: Lu, Priscilla Marilyn, McIntosh, Chris P.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US10/155,931
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/3.06, 455/403, 455/414, 455/419, 455/424, 455/425, 455/428, 455/557, 455/558, 455/561, 455/62
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/123 where the packet-switched network is an Internet Protocol Multimedia System-type network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A communication network (100) is provided having a WLAN (112) and an WLAN enabled information processing device (122), such as a portable computer or PDA, capable of emulating a cellular telephone. Generally, the device (122) includes a program (130) to emulate a cellular telephone and to identify voice packets to an access point (114) of the WLAN (112). The access point (114) is configured to route voice packets to a public or private cellular network (104, 110) over a first path (138), and to route other packets to an IP Network (116), over a second path (140). Thus, enabling a user of the device (122) to simultaneously engage in voice communication with a cellular network (104, 110) and data communication with the IP network (116).

Claims

1. An information processing device having:

a transceiver capable of communicating with an access point of a wireless local area network (WLAN);

a computer readable memory;

a processor capable of executing instructions of a computer program stored in the computer readable memory; and

a computer program stored in the computer readable memory for enabling the information processing device to emulate a voice communications terminal, the computer program including program code for enabling the information processing device to take in an audible signal, encapsulate the audible signal into voice packets, and identify voice packets to the access point.

2. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver is compatible with a WLAN communication standard selected from a group consisting of:

HIgh Performance Local Area Network (HiperLAN/1);

HIgh Performance Local Area Network (HiperLAN/2); and

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802. 11 (IEEE 802.11).

3. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the computer program further includes program code to enable the information processing device to emulate a cellular telephone selected from the group consisting of:

CDMA telephones;

Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) cellular telephones; and

third generation (3G) cellular telephones.

4. An information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the computer program further includes program code to enable the information processing device to emulate a predetermined model of cellular telephone manufactured by a predetermined manufacturer.

5. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the computer program further includes program code to enable the information processing device to emulate a cellular telephone and further comprising a subscriber identity module (SIM) card and an adapter that enables the information processing device to communicate with the public cellular network.

6. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the computer program further includes program code to enable the information processing device to emulate a cellular telephone, and further comprising at least one virtual identity module including subscriber identification and security information stored in the computer readable memory to enable the information processing device to communicate with the public cellular network.

7. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the computer program includes program code to enable the information processing device to control supplementary services provided by the public network or private network.

8. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the computer program includes program code to enable the information processing device to control value-added services provided by the public network or private network.

9. An information processing device according to claim 8, wherein the value-added services controlled by the computer program include e-mail, calender, and wireless inventory.

10. A communication network comprising:

a public network including a public cellular network;

a private network including;

a switch through which the private network is coupled to the public network;

a wireless local area network (WLAN) having at least one access point; and

an information processing device having;

a transceiver capable of communicating with the access point of the WLAN;

a computer readable memory;

a processor capable of executing instructions of a computer program stored in the computer readable memory; and

a terminal emulator program stored in the computer readable memory to enable the information processing device to communicate with the public network, the terminal emulator program including program code to enable the information processing device to;

emulate a voice communications terminal capable of communicating with the public networks;

take in an audible signal from a microphone coupled to the information processing device;

encapsulate the audible signal into voice packets;

identify the voice packets to the access point;

transmit the voice packets to the access point;

receive voice packets from the access point; and

convert the received voice packets into an audible signal.

11. A communication network according to claim 10, wherein the terminal emulator program includes program code for:

emulating a telephone-type keypad;

taking in information from the keypad;

encapsulating information from the keypad into packets compatible with the access point of the WLAN; and

transmitting packets to establish a session with the access point.

12. A communication network according to claim 10, wherein the WLAN is further coupled to an internet protocol (IP) network, and wherein the access point further comprises:

a computer readable memory;

a processor capable of executing instructions of a computer program stored in the computer readable memory; and

a packet routing program stored in the computer readable memory including program code to enable the access point to route voice packets to the switch over a first communication path, and packets not identified as voice packets to the IP network over a second communications path,

whereby a user of the information processing device can substantially simultaneously engage in voice communication with a terminal coupled to the public network, and data communication with a terminal coupled to the IP network.

13. A communication network according to claim 12, wherein the switch further comprises:

a computer readable memory;

a processor capable of executing instructions of a computer program stored in the computer readable memory; and

a converter program stored in the computer readable memory including program code to enable the switch to convert voice packets received from the information processing device to signals compatible with those used in the public network.

14. A communication network according to claim 13, wherein the private network further comprises a private cellular network, and wherein the switch is a part of the private cellular network.

15. A communication network according to claim 14, wherein the private network further comprises a private branch exchange (PBX).

16. A communication network according to claim 15, wherein the public network further comprises a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

17. A communication network according to claim 16, wherein the terminal emulator program, packet routing program and converter program enable the information processing device to communicate with at least one telephone selected from the group of:

telephones coupled to the private cellular network;

telephones coupled to the PBX;

telephones coupled the PSTN; and

telephones coupled to the public cellular network.

18. A communication network according to claim 10, wherein the terminal emulator program further includes program code to enable the information processing device to emulate a cellular telephone selected from the group consisting of:

CDMA telephones;

Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) cellular telephones; and

third generation (3G) cellular telephones.

19. A communication network according to claim 18, wherein the terminal emulator program further includes program code to enable the information processing device to emulate a predetermined model of cellular telephone manufactured by a predetermined manufacturer.

20. A communication network according to claim 10, wherein the terminal emulator program further includes program code to enable the information processing device to emulate a cellular telephone, and wherein the information processing device further comprises a subscriber identity module (SIM) card and an adapter that enables the information processing device to communicate with a cellular telephone network.

21. A communication network according to claim 10, wherein the terminal emulator program further includes program code to enable the information processing device to emulate a cellular telephone, and wherein the information processing device further comprises at least one virtual identity module including subscriber identification and security information stored in the computer readable memory to enable the information processing device to communicate with a cellular telephone network.

22. A communication network according to claim 10, wherein the terminal emulator program includes program code to enable the information processing device to control supplementary services provided by the public network or private network.

23. A communication network according to claim 10, wherein the terminal emulator program includes program code to enable the information processing device to control value-added services provided by the public network or private network.

24. A communication network according to claim 23, wherein the value-added services controlled by the computer program include e-mail, calender, and wireless inventory.

25. A communication network according to claim 10, wherein the information processing device is a portable computer or personal digital assistant (PDA).

26. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a wireless local area network (WLAN) enabled information processing device, such as a portable computer or personal digital assistant, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computer program mechanism, comprising:

a program module that directs the information processing device, to function in a specified manner, to emulate a communications terminal, the program module including program code for;

emulating a telephone-type keypad;

taking in information from the keypad;

encapsulating information from the keypad into packets compatible with an access point of the WLAN;

transmitting packets to establish a session with the access point;

taking in an audible signal from a microphone coupled to the information processing device;

encapsulating the voice information from the microphone into voice packets;

identifying the voice packets to the access point;

transmitting the voice packets to the access point;

receiving voice packets from the access point; and

converting the received voice packets into an audible signal to engage in voice communication with a telephone coupled to a cellular network coupled to the WLAN.

27. A computer program product according to claim 26, wherein the program module further includes program code to enable the information processing device to emulate a cellular telephone selected from the group consisting of:

CDMA telephones;

Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) cellular telephones; and

third generation (3G) cellular telephones.

28. A communication network according to claim 27, wherein the program module further includes program code to enable the information processing device to emulate a predetermined model of cellular telephone manufactured by a predetermined manufacturer.

29. A method of adapting a wireless local area network (WLAN) enabled information processing device to emulate a cellular communications terminal, the method comprising steps of:

emulating a telephone-type keypad on the information processing device;

taking in information from the keypad;

encapsulating information from the keypad into packets compatible with an access point of the WLAN;

transmitting packets to establish a session with the access point;

taking in an audible signal from a microphone coupled to the information processing device;

encapsulating the voice information from the microphone into voice packets compatible with the access point of the WLAN;

identifying the voice packets to the access point

transmitting the packets and voice packets to the access point;

receiving voice packets from the access point; and

converting the received voice packets into an audible signal to engage in voice communication with a telephone coupled to a cellular network coupled to the WLAN.

30. An information processing device having:

a transceiver capable of communicating with an access point of a wireless local area network (WLAN);

a computer readable memory;

a processor capable of executing instructions of a computer program stored in the computer readable memory; and

a computer program stored in the computer readable memory for enabling the information processing device to emulate a communications terminal, the computer program including program code for enabling the information processing device to emulate the communications terminal and to control supplementary services provided by the public network or private network, wherein the supplementary services controlled by the computer program include;

Voice Group Call Service;

Voice Broadcast Service;

Service definition Line Identification Supplementary Services;

Call Forwarding Supplementary Services;

Call Waiting and Call Hold Supplementary Services;

Multiparty call conferencing;

Closed User Group Supplementary Services;

Advice of Charge Supplementary Services;

Call Barring Supplementary Services;

Unstructured Supplementary Service Data;

Explicit Call Transfer;

Completion of Calls to Busy Subscriber;

Short Message Service; and

Follow Me.

31. A communication network comprising:

a public network including a public cellular network;

a private network including;

a switch through which the private network is coupled to the public network;

a wireless local area network (WLAN) having at least one access point; and

an information processing device having;

a transceiver capable of communicating with the access point of the WLAN;

a computer readable memory;

a processor capable of executing instructions of a computer program stored in the computer readable memory; and

a terminal emulator program stored in the computer readable memory to enable the information processing device to communicate with the public network, the terminal emulator program including program code to enable the information processing device to emulate a communications terminal capable of communicating with the public network and to enable the information processing device to control supplementary services provided by the public network or private network, wherein the supplementary services controlled by the computer program include;

Voice Group Call Service;

Voice Broadcast Service;

Service definition Line Identification Supplementary Services;

Call Forwarding Supplementary Services;

Call Waiting and Call Hold Supplementary Services;

Multiparty call conferencing;

Closed User Group Supplementary Services;

Advice of Charge Supplementary Services;

Call Barring Supplementary Services;

Unstructured Supplementary Service-Data;

Explicit Call Transfer;

Completion of Calls to Busy Subscriber;

Short Message Service; and

Follow Me.