Method and apparatus for a software configurable wireless modem adaptable for multiple modes of operation

• US 6,785,556 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Inventors: Souissi, Slim Salah
• Primary Examiner(s): Gary, Erika
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Application Number:
  US09/925,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20020068608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/414, 455/419, 455/420, 455/422--42, 455/456.1, 455/462, 455/9, 455/11.1, 455/41.2, 455/73, 455/90.1, 455/78, 455/88, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/561, 455/575.1, 455/95, 375/222, 375/259, 375/295, 375/235, 342/385, 342/357, 342/457, 709/229, 713/2, 379/58.17, 379/201, 379/23.05, 379/93.29, 370/338, 370/401, 370/333, 370/343, 717/178
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0001 Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff adaptive data allocation for multicarrier modulation H04L5/0044; controlling transmission power for radio systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0008 arrangements for allowing a transmitter or receiver to use more than one type of modulation negotiating modulation type for two-way transmission paths H04L5/1453

Abstract

The present invention provides for a software configurable wireless modem that can be configured using software downloaded by a host computer. The user can select a preferred mode of operation, or mode selection can be done automatically based upon whether one or more predetermined criterion, such as a location of the modem, are met.

Claims

1. A detachable software configurable wireless radio frequency (“

RF”

) modem for facilitating wireless data communications according to a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a central processing unit (“

CPU”

) operative to download software into said RF modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem comprising;

an antenna for receiving or transmitting an electromagnetic RF signal;

a software configurable RF front end coupled to said antenna for performing RF conversion;

a software configurable baseband processor coupled to said RF front end for performing baseband processing;

a software configurable modem CPU coupled to said baseband processor and said RF front end for performing protocol stack control and for facilitating said RF modem mode change; and

a modem reconfiguration trigger for detecting that at least one predetermined criterion has been met and for generating said trigger signal in response thereto that identifies said selected alternate mode of RF modem operation, said modem CPU operating in response to said downloaded software to reconfigure said RF front end, said baseband processor and said modem CPU so as to cause said RF modem to operate according to said selected alternate mode of operation.

2. The RF modem of claim 1, wherein said modem configuration trigger comprises a system detector for scanning a predetermined plurality of modes of RF modem operation and for selecting one of said modes of operation based on the at least one predetermined criterion that has been met.

3. The RF modem of claim 2, wherein said system detector scans said predetermined modes of operation and performs at least one received signal strength indicator measurement in each said mode.

4. The RF modem of claim 2, wherein said system detector scans said predetermined modes of operation by detecting the presence of at least one control signal or synch channel that corresponds to a given mode of operation.

5. The RF modem of claim 4, wherein said system detector comprises at least one detection unit and a system detection controller that controls each said detection unit, wherein each said detection unit is coupled to said RF front end and is operative to detect the presence of a given said control signal or synch channel.

6. The RF modem of claim 5, wherein said system detection controller comprises a software program executed by said modem CPU.

7. The RF modem of claim 5, wherein said baseband processor includes each said detection unit.

8. The RF modem of claim 1, wherein one said predetermined criterion is a modem user'"'"'s request for said mode change.

9. The RF modem of claim 1, wherein one said predetermined criterion is traffic load on said present mode of operation above a specified threshold.

10. The RF modem of claim 1, wherein one said predetermined criterion is coverage reliability on said present mode of operation.

11. The RF modem of claim 1, wherein one said predetermined criterion is cost of service.

12. The RF modem of claim 1, wherein one said predetermined criterion is quality of service.

13. The RF modem of claim 1, wherein one said predetermined criterion is data transport rate.

14. The RF modem of claim 1, further comprising a geographic positioning device coupled to said modem CPU for determining the geographic location of said RF modem.

15. The RF modem of claim 14, wherein one said predetermined criterion is said geographic location of said RF modem.

16. A detachable software configurable wireless radio frequency (“

RF”

) modem for facilitating wireless data communications according to a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a central processing unit (“

CPU”

) operative to download software into said RF modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem comprising;

an antenna for receiving or transmitting an electromagnetic RF signal;

a software configurable RF front end coupled to said antenna for performing RF conversion;

a software configurable baseband processor coupled to said RF front end for performing baseband processing;

a software configurable modem CPU coupled to said baseband processor and said RF front end for performing protocol stack control and for facilitating said RF modem mode change;

a modem reconfiguration trigger for detecting that at least one predetermined criterion has been met and for generating said trigger signal in response thereto that identifies said selected alternate mode of RF modem operation; and

a geographic positioning device coupled to said modem CPU for determining the geographic location of said RF modem, said modem CPU operating in response to said downloaded software to reconfigure said RF front end, said baseband processor and said modem CPU so as to cause said RF modem to operate according to said selected alternate mode of operation.

17. A method for generating a mode change in a detachable and software configurable wireless radio frequency (“

RF”

) modem from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem having an antenna, a software configurable RF front end, a software configurable baseband processor, and a software configurable central processing unit (“

CPU”

) for providing wireless data communications according to a selected one of a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a CPU, said host computing device operative to download software into said modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change its mode of operation, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) detecting whether at least one predetermined criterion has been met;

(b) scanning a predetermined plurality of RF modem modes of operation to determine one or more modes of operation that satisfy said at least one predetermined criterion;

(c) selecting a mode of operation from said one or more modes of operation determined in step (b);

(d) generating said trigger signal to identify to said host computing device the identity of the mode of operation selected in step (c); and

(e) configuring said RF modem using the software downloaded from said host computing device to cause said RF modem to operate according to said mode of operation selected in step (c).

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said RF modem is caused to search for an alternate mode of operation only upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, and wherein step (b) further comprises the setting of a timer, such that, when the timer expires, the RF modem is caused to cease scanning for a mode of operation that satisfies said at least one predetermined criterion, said RF modem thereafter continuing to operate according to said present mode of operation.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein one said predetermined criterion is a modem user'"'"'s request for said mode change.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein one said predetermined criterion is traffic load on said present mode of operation above a specified threshold.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein one said predetermined criterion is coverage reliability on said present mode of operation.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein one said predetermined criterion is cost of service.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein one said predetermined criterion is quality of service.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein one said predetermined criterion is data transport rate.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein one said predetermined criterion is the geographic location of said RF modem.

26. A method for generating a mode change in a detachable and software configurable wireless radio frequency (“

RF”

) modem from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem having an antenna, a software configurable RF front end, a software configurable baseband processor, and a software configurable central processing unit (“

CPU”

) for providing wireless data communications according to a selected one of a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a CPU, said host computing device operative to download software into said modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change its mode of operation, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) detecting a request from a user of said RF modem to change said RF modem'"'"'s mode of operation;

(b) providing the user with a list of available alternate modes of operation and enabling the user to select a desired alternative mode of operation;

(c) downloading from said host computing device software to enable said RF modem to be configured according to said selected alternative mode of operation; and

(d) configuring said RF modem using said downloaded software to operate according to said selected alternative mode of operation.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein step (d) includes the step of configuring said modem CPU, said baseband processor and said RF head.

28. A method for generating a mode change in a detachable and software configurable wireless radio frequency (“

RF”

) modem from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem having an antenna, a software configurable RF front end, a software configurable baseband processor, and a software configurable central processing unit (“

CPU”

) for providing wireless data communications according to a selected one of a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a CPU, said host computing device operative to download software into said modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change its mode of operation, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) requesting from said modem by said host computing device a list of said plurality of modes of operation;

(b) supplying by said modem to said host computing device said list requested in step (a);

(c) configuring said modem according to a first mode of operation on said list supplied in step (b);

(d) determining if said modem operates according to said mode of operation and if not configuring said modem according to a next mode of operation on said list supplied in step (b) and repeating step (d); and

(e) operating said modem.

29. A method for generating a mode change in a detachable and software configurable wireless radio frequency (“

RF”

) modem from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem having an antenna, a software configurable RF front end, a software configurable baseband processor, and a software configurable central processing unit (“

CPU”

) for providing wireless data communications according to a selected one of a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a CPU, said host computing device operative to download software into said modem in response to a trigger signal generated by said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change its mode of operation, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) determining the geographic location of said modem;

(b) requesting by said modem to said host computing device to be configured according to a mode of operation that is operational within said geographic location of said modem;

(c) generating by said host computing device a list of at least one said mode of operation that is operational within said geographic location of said modem;

(d) configuring said modem according to a first mode on said list generated in step (c);

(e) determining if said modem operates according to said mode of operation and if not configuring said modem according to a next mode of operation on said list generated in step (c) and repeating step (e); and

(f) operating said modem.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said list generated in step (c) is generated from a geographic database stored in said RF modem.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said list generated in step (c) is generated from a geographic database stored in said host computing device.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein steps (d) and (e) are performed by said RF modem.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein steps (d) and (e) are performed by said host computing device.

34. A detachable software configurable wireless radio frequency (“

RF”

) modem for facilitating wireless data communications according to a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a central processing unit (“

CPU”

) operative to download software into said RF modem in response to a trigger signal generated external to said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem comprising;

an antenna for receiving or transmitting an electromagnetic RF signal;

a software configurable RF front end coupled to said antenna for performing RF conversion;

a software configurable baseband processor coupled to said RF front end for performing baseband processing; and

,

a software configurable modem CPU coupled to said baseband processor and said RF front end for performing protocol stack control and for facilitating said RF modem mode change, said modem CPU operating in response to said downloaded software to reconfigure said RF front end, said baseband processor and said modem CPU so as to cause said RF modem to operate according to said selected alternate mode of operation.

35. The RF modem of claim 34, wherein said trigger signal is generated by a software program stored in said storage unit in response to a user'"'"'s request.

36. The RF modem of claim 34, wherein said trigger signal is generated by a server internet.

37. A method for generating a mode change in a detachable and software configurable wireless radio frequency (“

RF”

) modem from a present mode of operation to a selected alternate mode of operation, said RF modem having an antenna, a software configurable RF front end, a software configurable baseband processor, and a software configurable central processing unit (“

CPU”

) for providing wireless data communications according to a selected one of a plurality of modes of operation, said RF modem constructed to plug into a host computing device having a storage unit and a CPU, said host computing device operative to download software into said modem in response to a trigger signal generated external to said RF modem, to enable said RF modem to change its mode of operation, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) detecting whether at least one predetermined criterion has been met;

(b) scanning a predetermined plurality of RF modem modes of operation to determine one or more modes of operation that satisfy said at least one predetermined criterion;

(c) selecting a mode of operation from said one or more modes of operation determined in step (b);

(d) generating said trigger signal to identify to said host computing device the identity of the mode of operation selected in step (c); and

(e) configuring said RF modem using the software downloaded from said host computing device to cause said RF modem to operate according to said mode of operation selected in step (c).

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said trigger signal is generated by a software program stored in said storage unit in response to a user'"'"'s request.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein said trigger signal is generated by a server internet.