System and method for using a wireless enabled portable computer system as a wireless modem

• US 6,745,047 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kammer, David, Robertson, Ryan, Karstens, Rich
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Pablo N.
• Application Number:
  US09/801,532
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/550.1, 455/90.1, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/558, 455/344, 455/346
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A method and system for using a wireless enabled portable computer system as a wireless modem. The portable computer system may be a personal digital assistant (PDA) having an internal wireless modem. The internal wireless modem, e.g., GSM radio, contains a communication port (port2) that communicates with a processor of the portable computer system. The portable computer system also contains another communication port (port1) that is externally available for connection to a second computer system. A software bridge is provided that copies commands and/or data from the port1 over to the port2 and vice-versa. The software bridge allows the second computer system to directly use the internal wireless modem of the portable computer system when the portable computer system is connected to the second computer. The connection to the second computer system can be made by a wired connection (e.g., serial interface, RS232) or by a wireless connection, e.g., Bluetooth or infra-red communication. The port1 and the port2 can be serial communication ports which may be UART compliant. The PDA thus extends wireless functionality to a second computer system (e.g., a notebook) using conventional connection mechanisms for communicating with the second computer system.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a first communication port that is directly accessible to an external communication connector;

an internal resource configured to communicate with a second communication port that is internal to said portable electronic device, wherein said second communication port is not directly accessible by said external communication connector;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to communicate with said first communication port and said second communication port and coupled to said memory, said processor operable to make said internal resource accessible to said external communication connector by executing instructions stored in said memory that implement a communication bridge providing communication between said first communication port and said second communication port.

2. A portable electronic device as described in claim 1 wherein said first communication port and said second communication port are serial communication ports.

3. A portable electronic device as described in claim 2 wherein said serial communication ports are implemented using UART circuitry.

4. A portable electronic device as described in claim 1 wherein said internal resource is a wireless modem.

5. A portable electronic device as described in claim 1 wherein said internal resource is a wireless radio.

6. A portable electronic device as described in claim 1 wherein said portable electronic device is a personal digital assistant and wherein said external communication connector is for coupling said personal digital assistant to a host computer system.

7. A portable electronic device as described in claim 1 wherein said communication bridge relays information from a receive line (Rx) of one communication port to the transmit line (Tx) of the other communication port and vice-versa.

8. A portable electronic device as described in claim 1 wherein said communication bridge performs protocol translation between a PPP communication protocol and an non-PPP communication protocol.

9. A portable electronic device as described in claim 4 wherein said wireless modem circuit performs protocol translation between a PPP communication protocol and an non-PPP communication protocol.

10. A personal digital assistant comprising:

a first communication port accessible from an external communication connector, said external communication connector for coupling with a host computer system;

an internal wireless communication device configured to communicate with a second communication port that is internal to said personal digital assistant and wherein said second communication port is not directly accessible by said external communication connector;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to communicate with said first communication port and said second communication port and coupled to said memory, said processor operable to make said internal wireless communication device accessible to said host computer system by executing instructions stored in said memory that implement a communication bridge providing communication between said first communication port and said second communication port.

11. A personal digital assistant as described in claim 10 wherein said first communication port and said second communication port are serial communication ports.

12. A personal digital assistant as described in claim 11 wherein said serial communication ports are implemented using UART circuitry.

13. A personal digital assistant as described in claim 11 wherein said communication bridge relays information from a receive line (Rx) of one communication port to the transmit line (Tx) of the other communication port and vice-versa.

14. A personal digital assistant as described in claim 10 wherein said communication bridge performs protocol translation between a PPP communication protocol and an non-PPP communication protocol.

15. A personal digital assistant as described in claim 10 wherein said internal wireless communication device performs protocol translation between a PPP communication protocol and an non-PPP communication protocol.

16. A computer system comprising:

a host computer system;

a portable computer system communicatively coupled to said host computer system and comprising;

a first communication port directly accessible from an external communication device, said external communication device for communicating with said host computer system;

an internal wireless communication device configured to communicate with a second communication port that is internal to said portable computer system and that is not directly accessible by said external communication device;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to communicate with said first communication port and said second communication port and coupled to said memory, said processor operable to make said internal wireless communication device accessible to said host computer system by executing instructions stored in said memory that implement a communication bridge between said first communication port and said second communication port.

17. A computer system as described in claim 16 wherein said first communication port and said second communication port are serial communication ports.

18. A computer system as described in claim 17 wherein said communication bridge relays information from a receive line (Rx) of one communication port to the transmit line (Tx) of the other communication port and vice-versa.

19. A computer system as described in claim 16 wherein said communication bridge performs protocol translation between a PPP communication protocol and an non-PPP communication protocol.

20. A computer system as described in claim 16 wherein said internal wireless communication device performs protocol translation between a PPP communication protocol and an non-PPP communication protocol.

21. A computer system as described, in claim 16 wherein said external communication device is a wireless Bluetooth compliant external communication device for communicating with said host computer system.

22. A computer system as described in claim 16 wherein said external communication device is a wireless infrared external communication device for communicating with said host computer system.